**Wipro Founder Azim Premji Declines CM Siddaramaiah’s Request to Allow Vehicular Movement Through Company Campus**
*Bengaluru:* Wipro founder chairman Azim Premji has declined Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s request to allow limited vehicular movement through the company’s Sarjapur campus in Bengaluru. Premji stated that the campus is exclusive private property owned by a listed company and is not meant to serve as a public thoroughfare.
Premji explained that permitting public vehicular movement through the Wipro campus would pose “significant legal, governance, and statutory challenges.”
On September 19, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to Premji exploring “the possibility of allowing limited vehicular movement through the Wipro campus, subject to mutually agreed terms and necessary security considerations.” He noted that preliminary assessments by traffic and urban mobility experts indicated such a measure could reduce congestion on adjoining stretches of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) by nearly 30%, especially during peak office hours.
In his letter, Siddaramaiah emphasized, “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.”
Responding on Wednesday, Premji appreciated the Chief Minister’s leadership on addressing Bengaluru’s critical traffic congestion but highlighted the challenges involved.
“With respect to the specific suggestion of allowing public vehicular movement through our Sarjapur campus, we apprehend significant legal, governance, and statutory challenges since it is an exclusive private property owned by a listed company not intended for public thoroughfare,” he wrote.
He further added that the Sarjapur campus is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) providing services to global customers. As a result, contractual obligations mandate stringent, non-negotiable access control norms for governance and compliance.
Premji noted that public vehicular movement through private property is unlikely to be an effective, sustainable long-term solution.
“Wipro nevertheless stands committed to partner with the Government of Karnataka to find a lasting solution for Bengaluru’s mobility challenges,” he affirmed, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative and data-driven approach for the city’s best interests.
Highlighting the urgency of the traffic situation, especially along the Outer Ring Road — a major export-oriented economic hub — Premji acknowledged the complexity of the problem. “The problem’s complexity, stemming from multiple factors, suggests that there is unlikely to be a single point solution or a silver bullet to resolve it,” he observed.
He proposed commissioning a comprehensive, scientific study conducted by an entity with world-class expertise in urban transport management. This study would help develop a holistic roadmap featuring effective solutions for the short, medium, and long term.
“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 added.
The Outer Ring Road has long been plagued by severe traffic congestion and poor road conditions, making daily commutes challenging. The issue gained attention when BlackBuck CEO and co-founder Rajesh Yabaji publicly announced on social media platform ‘X’ that his company would relocate from the ORR (Bellandur area). He cited the average commute time increasing by one-and-a-half hours one way, along with roads full of potholes and dust.
Yabaji lamented the “lowest intent to get them rectified” and expressed skepticism about any improvement, stating, “Didn’t see any of this changing in the next 5 years.”
—
*Note: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/azim-premji-declines-karnataka-cms-request-to-allow-public-vehicles-through-wipro-campus
Be First to Comment