Bengaluru – Wipro founder-chairman Azim Premji has formally declined Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s proposal to allow public vehicular access through the company’s Sarjapur campus, citing legal, governance, and security issues linked to its Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status.
The Request and the Rejection
On September 19, 2025, CM Siddaramaiah wrote to Wipro requesting limited vehicular movement through the Sarjapur campus, after traffic studies suggested it could reduce congestion at the notorious Iblur Junction by nearly 30–38% during peak hours.
In his response dated September 24, Premji rejected the proposal, stressing that the campus is an exclusive private property within an SEZ, bound by “stringent, non-negotiable access control norms” due to global service obligations.
“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 wrote.
While turning down the request, Premji offered to finance a scientific, independent study on Bengaluru’s traffic crisis led by global urban transport experts.
Why It Matters
The Outer Ring Road (ORR), especially the Iblur Junction stretch, remains one of Bengaluru’s most congested corridors. It is home to several multinational companies and contributes significantly to India’s $200 billion IT export economy. Daily commuters face long delays that hamper productivity and worsen the city’s already strained infrastructure.
The government had hoped that Wipro’s internal road, linking Sarjapur Road and ORR, could provide much-needed relief. However, Wipro maintained that such access would only offer short-term benefits and complicate corporate governance for a listed company operating under SEZ rules.
Diverging Perspectives
- Government’s Stand: CM Siddaramaiah highlighted traffic police simulations projecting travel-time reductions of up to 38% if the campus link was opened.
- Wipro’s Position: Premji argued that Bengaluru’s traffic woes are “multi-factorial” and cannot be solved by a “single-point solution”.
- Urban Planning Experts: Specialists say campus access could help temporarily but warn that long-term relief requires comprehensive infrastructure upgrades such as mass transit expansion and road redesigns.
- Legal Analysts: Corporate lawyers noted that acceding to the state’s request could set a precedent forcing SEZ-based companies to compromise compliance norms, raising liability risks.
Public and Corporate Response
The decision drew mixed reactions. Many commuters expressed frustration online, while others sympathized with Wipro’s regulatory limitations. Analysts observed that the move sets a precedent for how private companies respond to public infrastructure demands, especially in IT hubs where corporate campuses overlap with urban transport corridors.
Wipro has designated senior executive Reshmi Shankar to work with the Karnataka government on exploring alternative solutions.
The Bigger Picture
This standoff underscores a deeper challenge: Bengaluru’s rapid economic growth has far outpaced its infrastructure planning. The ORR, which powers India’s IT exports, is increasingly strained, raising concerns over the city’s global competitiveness in attracting investments and talent.
The clash between corporate governance requirements and public infrastructure needs also highlights potential gaps in India’s SEZ regulatory framework, which may require policy-level interventions to prevent similar deadlocks in the future.
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