Wipro declines Karnataka govt’s request to open Sarjapur campus, proposes mobility study

Wipro has declined Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s request to open its Sarjapur SEZ campus for public vehicles citing legal and compliance issues, but pledged to partner a global expert study on Bengaluru’s traffic crisis.

Days after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requested Wipro to allow public vehicles inside its Sarjapur campus to reduce congestion on Outer Ring Road, the IT giant has formally declined, citing compliance hurdles.

In a letter dated September 24, Wipro Founder Chairman Azim Premji told the CM that the company faced “significant legal, governance, and statutory challenges” as the campus is an exclusive SEZ with strict contractual conditions mandating non-negotiable access controls. He stressed that opening the private property to public vehicles was neither permissible nor a sustainable solution.

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The Chief Minister had told that diverting vehicles through the Wipro campus could cut traffic at Iblur Junction by nearly 30% during peak hours. He urged the IT major to cooperate, noting it would “enhance commuter experience and contribute to a livable Bengaluru.”

While refusing access, Premji proposed an alternative: Wipro would help underwrite the cost of a world-class study on Bengaluru’s mobility crisis. He emphasized that the traffic challenge was too complex for “a silver bullet” solution and required a holistic, multi-phase roadmap developed by global experts in urban transport.

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This offer signals Wipro’s willingness to partner with the state government in shaping long-term, science-backed solutions to Bengaluru’s traffic mess, even as commuters continue to grapple with daily gridlock on the city’s busiest corridors.