Wipro founder Azim Premji has declined Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s request to permit limited public vehicular movement through the company’s Bengaluru campus to ease traffic congestion on the Outer Ring Road (ORR).
In his response, Premji highlighted the legal, governance, and statutory challenges involved, noting that the Sarjapur campus is private property and part of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) catering to global clients. He further emphasised that contractual obligations require strict access control, and opening the campus to public traffic would not provide a sustainable, long-term solution.
Wipro proposes data-driven solutions
While rejecting the request, Premji expressed Wipro’s willingness to partner with the Karnataka government in tackling Bengaluru’s traffic challenges. He proposed commissioning a comprehensive study led by experts in urban transport management to devise implementable solutions.
“Such an exercise would allow us to develop a holistic roadmap of effective solutions that are implementable in the short, medium, and long term. To demonstrate our commitment, Wipro will engage in this process and underwrite a significant portion of the cost,” Premji wrote in his letter.
CM’s traffic relief proposal
Siddaramaiah had suggested that opening Wipro’s campus to public vehicular movement could reduce congestion along the ORR by nearly 30 per cent. However, Premji countered that the complexity of Bengaluru’s traffic requires multi-faceted solutions, and a single measure like opening the campus would not suffice.
Despite the refusal, Premji reaffirmed Wipro’s commitment to collaborate with the government, stating that a data-driven approach would yield the most impactful results for Bengaluru.