In a significant development amid Bengaluru’s worsening traffic crisis, Wipro Founder Chairman Azim Premji has formally declined Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s request to open the company’s Sarjapur campus for public vehicular movement. The proposal, aimed at easing congestion along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), was met with legal and operational concerns from the IT major.
In a letter dated September 24, Premji acknowledged the urgency of the situation and praised the government’s efforts, but emphasized that allowing public access through Wipro’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) campus would not be a sustainable or legally viable solution. “There is unlikely to be a single-point solution or a silver bullet to resolve it,” Premji wrote, citing governance, statutory, and contractual constraints tied to global client operations and SEZ compliance.
The Proposal and Its Rejection
Siddaramaiah’s appeal, made on September 19, suggested that opening the Wipro–Ecoworld link road could reduce traffic at Iblur Junction by up to 30% during peak hours. However, Wipro responded that such access would violate SEZ norms and compromise operational integrity.
Instead, Wipro offered to finance a comprehensive, expert-led study on Bengaluru’s urban mobility challenges. “We believe the most effective path forward is to commission a scientific study led by an entity with world-class expertise in urban transport management,” Premji stated.
Civic Impact and Next Steps
- Traffic Simulation Studies: Preliminary assessments by Bengaluru Traffic Police suggested a potential 38% reduction in travel time if the campus road were opened.
- Corporate Cooperation: The exchange highlights the tension between private property rights and public infrastructure needs in India’s tech corridors.
- Policy Outlook: Wipro’s offer to underwrite a mobility study may pave the way for data-driven, multi-stakeholder solutions.