Wipro founder Azim Premji responded to a request from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, declining to allow limited public vehicular movement through the company’s Bengaluru campus to alleviate traffic congestion on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) on Thursday.
In his letter, Premji cited significant legal, governance, and statutory challenges that prevent such a move while expressing Wipro’s willingness to partner with the state government on alternative, data-driven solutions to address Bengaluru’s chronic traffic issues.
Premji explained the constraints, stating, “The Sarjapur campus is private property and part of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) providing services to global clients.” He further noted that “contractual obligations mandate strict access control, and allowing public use of the campus would not offer a sustainable, long-term solution.” These restrictions, rooted in the operational and legal framework of the SEZ, make it unfeasible to open the campus for public traffic.
Acknowledging the severity of Bengaluru’s traffic challenges, particularly along the ORR, which Premji described as an export-orientated economic hub, he thanked Siddaramaiah for recognising Wipro’s contributions to Karnataka. He emphasised the complexity of the issue, stating, “The complexity of the problem, arising from multiple factors, means there is unlikely to be a single solution.”
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To address the problem constructively, Premji proposed a collaborative approach, suggesting the commissioning of a comprehensive, scientific study led by experts in urban transport management.
He wrote, “Such an exercise would allow us to develop a holistic roadmap of effective solutions that are implementable in the short, medium, and long terms. To demonstrate our commitment to being a part of the solution, Wipro will be pleased to engage in this process and underwrite a significant portion of the cost for this expert study.”
Premji reiterated Wipro’s commitment to working with the Karnataka government to find sustainable solutions, emphasising that “a data-driven approach will yield the most impactful results for our city.” While rejecting the specific request to open the campus, Wipro’s offer to fund and participate in a detailed study reflects its intent to contribute meaningfully to resolving Bengaluru’s traffic woes in a structured and impactful manner.
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