Bengaluru’s traffic crisis is once again in the spotlight—this time over a request from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to billionaire philanthropist and Wipro founder-chairman Azim Premji. The CM sought Premji’s cooperation in easing congestion along the city’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) by opening up the road running through Wipro’s sprawling Sarjapur campus to limited public vehicular movement.

Premji, however, has politely but firmly declined the request, citing legal, governance, and statutory challenges. His refusal has sparked political debates, with the opposition BJP targeting the state government and accusing it of “begging” corporates to solve Bengaluru’s civic issues.

This development highlights the growing tension between public infrastructure demands and the constraints of private property rights in India’s IT capital.

Siddaramaiah’s Request to Azim Premji

On September 19, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote a letter to Azim Premji, appealing for his cooperation in tackling the city’s worsening traffic congestion. Specifically, he asked whether Wipro could allow limited vehicular movement through its Sarjapur campus, under mutually agreed terms and security considerations.

The CM pointed out that preliminary studies by traffic and urban mobility experts suggest that opening up the Wipro road could potentially reduce congestion on adjoining stretches of the ORR by nearly 30 percent during peak office hours.

“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,” Siddaramaiah wrote.

The Outer Ring Road, particularly around Iblur junction, is one of Bengaluru’s busiest and most clogged stretches. It is also home to several tech parks and multinational companies, making the corridor vital for both mobility and productivity.

Azim Premji’s Firm Yet Courteous Rejection

In his response, sent on Wednesday, Azim Premji acknowledged the gravity of Bengaluru’s traffic problem and appreciated the CM’s efforts. However, he made it clear that Wipro could not allow public vehicles to pass through its Sarjapur campus.

“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,” Premji said.

He emphasized that Wipro’s Sarjapur campus is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), serving global clients under stringent compliance requirements.

“Our contractual conditions mandate stringent, non-negotiable access control norms for governance and compliance,” he added.

Premji also underlined that even if Wipro were to consider the request, allowing vehicles through private property would not provide a sustainable, long-term solution to Bengaluru’s traffic nightmare.

“Wipro nevertheless stands committed to partner with the Government of Karnataka to find a lasting solution for Bengaluru's mobility challenges,” he assured.

Azim Premji’s Alternative Proposal

While rejecting the immediate request, Premji suggested a more strategic and holistic approach. He noted that the ORR is a critical economic corridor, supporting Bengaluru’s export-oriented industries, and requires urgent attention.

“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 wrote.

Premji recommended commissioning a comprehensive, scientific study led by experts in urban transport management. Such a study, he said, could help design a holistic roadmap of solutions—short, medium, and long-term—that would be more impactful than piecemeal fixes.

“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.

This statement reaffirmed Wipro’s willingness to collaborate with the government but within a framework that is legally sound and globally compliant.

BJP’s Strong Attack on Siddaramaiah

Premji’s refusal, however, has given the opposition BJP ammunition to attack the ruling Congress government. BJP leaders accused the CM and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of being incapable of managing Bengaluru’s civic issues without turning to private companies for help.

“Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar have both set out with a begging bowl. They need alms to cover the potholes. The situation has come to this. Instead of cooperating with the people, they are troubling them,” said Chaluvadi Narayanaswamy, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council.

He further claimed that seeking access to Wipro’s “private property” highlighted the government’s financial mismanagement.

“This means that your treasury is empty and all the things you are saying are lies. He (Premji) has gracefully declined their request. We should thank Wipro. They have provided thousands of crores to supply nutritious food to school children across the state. If the government did that, how much money would they have stolen?” Narayanaswamy remarked.

Bengaluru’s Traffic Woes: A Never-Ending Nightmare

Known as India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru is home to over 1.2 crore residents and a thriving IT and startup ecosystem. But its infrastructure has long struggled to keep pace with rapid urbanization.

The Outer Ring Road (ORR), a key arterial corridor, is particularly notorious for traffic snarls. It houses dozens of tech parks and multinational company campuses, contributing significantly to India’s IT exports. Yet, during peak hours, vehicles crawl at snail’s pace, costing commuters both time and productivity.

The stretch near Iblur junction has become symbolic of Bengaluru’s infrastructure crisis. Poor road conditions, potholes, and constant congestion have made daily commutes unbearable for thousands of professionals.

Siddaramaiah, in his letter, had stressed that the ORR’s congestion directly affects mobility, productivity, and the quality of urban life in the city.

Premji, too, acknowledged these concerns. However, he insisted that solutions need to be data-driven and sustainable, rather than relying on temporary measures like opening private campuses to public traffic.

The Larger Debate: Public Good vs Private Property

This episode raises important questions about the balance between corporate responsibility and government accountability. While citizens expect tech giants and major employers to contribute to city development, companies like Wipro are bound by legal and global compliance frameworks that limit their flexibility.

Azim Premji’s stance reflects this tension. On one hand, he refused to open Wipro’s private SEZ campus due to contractual and statutory reasons. On the other, he demonstrated willingness to fund studies and work with the government for long-term solutions.

For many, this highlights a pressing reality: Bengaluru’s civic crisis cannot be outsourced to private companies. Instead, it requires systemic reforms, better urban planning, and greater investment from the government itself.

What Now?

The exchange between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Wipro founder Azim Premji underscores the urgency of Bengaluru’s traffic crisis and the challenges of finding practical solutions. While the CM sought immediate relief by requesting access to Wipro’s Sarjapur campus road, Premji rejected the idea, pointing to legal and compliance barriers.

Instead, Premji offered a forward-looking alternative: a scientific, expert-led study to design sustainable mobility solutions for the city, with Wipro willing to bear part of the cost.

Meanwhile, the BJP has seized the opportunity to criticize the Congress government, accusing it of financial mismanagement and dependency on corporates.

What remains undeniable is that Bengaluru, the nerve center of India’s IT exports, cannot afford to ignore its worsening traffic crisis. Whether through government action, corporate collaboration, or expert-led studies, the city urgently needs comprehensive and lasting solutions—because for millions of commuters, the daily grind on the ORR is already unbearable.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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