Azim Premji Declines Request to Open Wipro Sarjapur Campus
Azim Premji, the founder and chairman of Wipro, has rejected a proposal from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to allow public vehicles through the IT company's Sarjapur facility as a means to reduce traffic congestion on Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road.
Following the Karnataka Government's appeal for Wipro to permit public access through its Sarjapur facility to alleviate traffic problems at Iblur Junction on the Outer Ring Road, the company has stated it cannot comply with this request. However, Wipro has proposed to fund a substantial portion of an extensive study aimed at finding solutions for Bengaluru's traffic issues.
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“….our contractual conditions mandate stringent, non-negotiable access control norms for governance and compliance. Moreover, public vehicular movement through a private property would not be effective as a sustainable, long-term solution,” the letter said.
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In a letter dated September 24 addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Azim Premji, Wipro's Founder Chairman, explained that the company anticipated "considerable legal, governance, and regulatory obstacles given that this is exclusively private property belonging to a publicly traded company not designed for public passage." The correspondence emphasized that Wipro's Sarjapur facility operates as a special economic zone serving international clients.
Earlier on September 19, Siddaramaiah had written to Wipro asking the company to permit vehicle passage through its Sarjapur facility to decrease traffic on the Outer Ring Road.
The chief minister had indicated that this measure could reduce traffic jams at Iblur Junction by approximately 30 percent during rush hours.
The chief minister wrote that collaboration from the technology company would "significantly help in reducing traffic obstacles, improving the commuting experience, and creating a more efficient and habitable Bengaluru," while urging Wipro to work with government representatives to develop a mutually agreeable solution quickly.
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Premji stated that Wipro would collaborate with the Government "to identify a permanent resolution for Bengaluru's transportation issues." He noted that the issue's intricacy, arising from various contributing factors, indicates there is probably no "single remedy or quick fix" available to address it.
“The most effective path forward is to commission a comprehensive, scientific study led by an entity with world-class expertise in urban transport management. Such an exercise would allow us to develop a holistic roadmap of effective solutions that are implementable in the short, medium, and long term. 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,” the letter added.