On September 19, 2025, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote a thoughtful letter to Azim Premji, founder chairman of Wipro, appreciating the company’s contribution to Karnataka’s IT ecosystem and socio-economic growth. Highlighting a critical problem area, the Chief Minister specifically pointed to severe traffic congestion along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) corridor near Iblur junction, a major bottleneck impacting mobility and productivity during peak office hours.
Siddaramaiah proposed exploring the possibility of allowing limited vehicular movement through Wipro’s sprawling Sarjapur campus to help reduce congestion. Citing preliminary assessments by traffic and urban mobility experts, the CM noted this measure could lower traffic on adjoining ORR stretches by nearly 30%. He emphasized that such support would significantly ease traffic, enhance commuter experience, and contribute to a more efficient, livable Bengaluru. He urged Wipro’s team to collaborate with government officials to develop a mutually acceptable plan promptly.
Azim Premji Responds with Pragmatism and Offers Partnership for Scientific Study
In response on September 24, Azim Premji acknowledged the gravity of Bengaluru’s traffic woes and expressed appreciation for the government’s leadership on this complex challenge. However, he declined the proposal to open the Sarjapur campus to public vehicular movement, citing significant legal, governance, and statutory hurdles. The campus, being private property owned by a listed company and designated as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), requires stringent non-negotiable access control measures for governance and compliance, making public use infeasible.
Azim Premji underscored that Bengaluru’s traffic congestion stems from multiple factors, meaning that no single “silver bullet” or quick fix could resolve it. Instead, he advocated commissioning a comprehensive, data-driven scientific study led by world-class urban transport experts to design a holistic roadmap of actionable solutions for the short, medium, and long term. Demonstrating Wipro’s commitment, Premji pledged to underwrite a significant portion of the study’s cost and agreed to actively participate in its execution.
He reaffirmed Wipro’s willingness to partner with the Karnataka government towards a sustainable mobility solution based on scientific evidence and collaborative policymaking for the most meaningful impact.
Broader Context: The Persistent Challenge of ORR Congestion
The ORR corridor, a lifeline for Bengaluru’s IT and industrial sectors, has long suffered from traffic snarls and delays that erode productivity and quality of life. The site’s significance as an export-oriented economic hub adds urgency to finding viable solutions that balance security, governance, and practicality.
Wipro’s decision signals the intricate balance large corporate campuses must strike between operational integrity and public civic responsibilities.
Way Forward: Data-Driven Collaboration for Urban Mobility
The exchange between Siddaramaiah and Azim Premji reflects a mature, solution-oriented approach to addressing one of India’s most pressing urban challenges. With Wipro’s backing for a scientifically guided study and the government’s openness for partnership, stakeholders are aligned to explore innovative, sustainable interventions that could transform Bengaluru’s traffic landscape over time.
This partnership model could set a precedent for similar collaborations between government and industry in other congested urban clusters across India.
