On Friday, September 19, the Karnataka Chief Minister wrote to Wipro founder Azim Premji, requesting him to consider allowing ‘limited vehicular movement’ through the company’s campus, subject to mutual agreement. In his response on Wednesday, September 25, the Wipro Chairman cited multiple challenges in permitting vehicle access through the premises.
Wipro Founder Chairman Azim Premji has turned down Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s request to allow traffic through the company’s Sarjapur campus in Bengaluru, aimed at easing congestion on the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Premji stated that the property is privately owned by Wipro and cannot be made accessible to the public.
On Friday, September 19, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to Wipro Founder Azim Premji, requesting him to consider allowing ‘limited vehicular movement’ through the company’s Sarjapur campus, subject to mutual agreement. Traffic experts have noted that such a move could reduce congestion in the city and surrounding areas by up to 30%.“
Your support in this matter will go a long way in easing traffic bottlenecks, enhancing commuter experience, and contributing to a more efficient and livable Bengaluru. I would greatly appreciate it if your team could engage with our officials to work out a mutually acceptable plan at the earliest,” the Chief Minister stated, as quoted by PTI.
Wipro Chairman Raises Legal and Security Concerns
Responding to the Karnataka Chief Minister’s request, Azim Premji acknowledged Siddaramaiah’s forward-looking proposal but raised concerns over its feasibility. In his reply on Wednesday, September 25, Premji stated that permitting vehicular movement through Wipro’s Sarjapur campus would pose significant challenges and would not serve as a sustainable long-term solution.
“Regarding the suggestion to allow public vehicular access through our Sarjapur campus, we foresee considerable legal, governance, and statutory hurdles. The property is an exclusive private asset of a publicly listed company and is not designed to function as a public thoroughfare,” Premji said.
The Wipro Chairman further explained that the company’s Bengaluru campus is classified as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), catering to global clients and operating under strict legal and contractual obligations. As a result, movement within the campus is restricted and must comply with regulatory requirements.
Despite these constraints, Premji reiterated Wipro’s commitment to supporting the Karnataka government in addressing Bengaluru’s traffic challenges. He emphasized the importance of a collaborative, data-driven approach to develop sustainable, long-term solutions.
He also acknowledged the strategic importance of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to the city’s business ecosystem, noting that easing congestion along the ORR requires a multi-pronged strategy involving several stakeholders.
As a way forward, Premji recommended that the government commission a comprehensive study led by urban transport experts. Such an assessment, he said, could help formulate actionable plans to address the city’s traffic issues across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons. He emphasized that this approach would enable the development of a holistic and practical roadmap for lasting mobility solutions in Bengaluru.
“To demonstrate our commitment to being part of the solution, Wipro would be pleased to participate in this initiative and fund a significant portion of the cost for the expert-led study,” Premji stated.
The Outer Ring Road (ORR) has long been a major pain point for commuters, with severe traffic congestion creating daily challenges for office-goers. The extent of the problem recently gained widespread attention after BlackBuck CEO and co-founder Rajesh Yabaji posted on ‘X’ that his company plans to relocate from the ORR (Bellandur) area due to employees facing average one-way commute times of up to 1.5 hours.
Jyoti Gupta 
Harsh Kumar