Wipro founder and chairman Azim Premji has declined Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s request to open the company’s Sarjapur campus for public vehicular movement, citing legal and regulatory constraints. While acknowledging the city’s severe traffic issues and appreciating the CM’s outreach to corporate leaders, Premji stated that the Sarjapur campus is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with strict access controls due to global service obligations. He noted that allowing public traffic through the campus could pose significant legal and governance challenges, as the property is privately owned and not meant for public access.
Despite rejecting the proposal, Premji reaffirmed Wipro’s willingness to collaborate with the government on mobility solutions. He appointed senior executive Reshmi Shankar to liaise with state authorities. Emphasizing the need for a scientific, data-driven approach to tackle congestion on Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road, Premji proposed commissioning a comprehensive expert-led study and offered to fund a substantial part of it. The letter highlights the increasing involvement of private sector stakeholders in shaping urban infrastructure strategies, especially in rapidly growing tech hubs like Bengaluru.