Azim Premji turns down Karnataka CM’s road access proposal via Wipro campus

In his September 24 letter to the chief minister, Premji said the traffic problem was complex and unlikely to be solved by 'a single-point solution or a silver bullet.'

Wipro founder and chairman Azim Premji has turned down Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s proposal to allow road access through the company’s Sarjapur campus to ease congestion on Outer Ring Road (ORR).

In his September 24 letter to Siddaramaiah, Premji said the traffic problem was complex and unlikely to be solved by “a single-point solution or a silver bullet.”

Also, read: Karnataka CM writes to Azim Premji seeking Wipro campus access to ease ORR traffic

He suggested commissioning a comprehensive study led by an entity with “world-class expertise in urban transport management” to draw up a short-, medium-, and long-term roadmap. Wipro, he added, would underwrite a significant portion of the study’s cost.

Responding to the government’s request for road access through Wipro's Sarjapur campus, Premji cited “significant legal, governance, and statutory challenges.”

He said the Sarjapur campus, being a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) serving global clients, was bound by “stringent, non-negotiable access control norms” for governance and compliance. Allowing public traffic through private property, he argued, would not be a sustainable solution.

“Wipro nevertheless stands committed to partner with the Government of Karnataka to find a lasting solution for Bengaluru’s mobility challenges. We believe a collaborative, data-driven approach will yield the most impactful results,” Premji added.

Siddaramaiah, on September 19, wrote to Wipro founder-chairman Azim Premji, seeking the IT major’s support by allowing limited access through its campus to ease traffic congestion along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), particularly near Iblur junction.

The letter proposed exploring vehicular movement through the Wipro campus under mutually agreed terms and security considerations. “Preliminary assessments by traffic and urban mobility experts suggest this could reduce congestion on adjoining stretches of the ORR by nearly 30 percent during peak office hours,” it said.

Also, read: Karnataka CM writes to Azim Premji seeking Wipro campus access to ease ORR traffic