Pune, June 23 -- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, was compelled to cut short his inspection visit to Maharashtra's Pune on Monday following an advisory from the police administration citing growing traffic congestion in the city.

Gadkari was scheduled to review a proposed four-lane underground tunnel project designed to ease traffic in Pune's congested old city area, specifically Shaniwar Peth. The plan includes construction of two tunnels -- one stretching from Shaniwarwada to Swargate, and another from Sarasbaug to Shaniwarwada -- covering a total length of 2.5 kilometres.

The tunnels are intended to serve as alternative routes to the heavily congested Shivaji Road and Bajirao Road. Currently, Shivaji Roa...