BJP Accuses Karnataka Government of "Begging" After Wipro's Premji Declines Road Access Request

Bengaluru:

The BJP has launched a scathing criticism against Karnataka's Congress government for requesting assistance from Wipro founder and chairman Azim Premji to address Bengaluru's civic infrastructure problems. Following Mr. Premji's refusal to open Wipro's campus to external traffic as a thoroughfare, the BJP claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are essentially soliciting charity to repair road potholes.

Chaluvadi Narayanaswamy, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, stated, "Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar have both set out with a begging bowl. They need alms to cover the potholes. The situation has come to this. Instead of cooperating with the people, they are troubling them."

The controversy stems from a recent letter Mr. Premji wrote to Siddaramaiah after the Chief Minister sought his cooperation in alleviating the city's traffic congestion. While affirming Wipro's commitment to collaborating with the government on mobility challenges, Mr. Premji declined to permit outside vehicles within the company's Sarjapur campus.

BJP representatives suggested that such a request to access a corporation's "private" property indicates depleted government finances. Mr. Narayanaswamy remarked, "This means that your treasury is empty and all the things you are saying are lies. He (Premji) has gracefully declined their request. We should thank Wipro. They have provided thousands of crores to supply nutritious food to school children across the state. If the government did that, how much money would they have stolen?"

Bengaluru, India's IT capital, is notorious for its traffic problems, exacerbated by poor road conditions in many areas. Siddaramaiah had highlighted to Mr. Premji that the Outer Ring Road (ORR) corridor at Iblur junction experiences severe congestion during peak hours, negatively impacting mobility, productivity, and urban quality of life.

In his response, Mr. Premji acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and appreciated the government's appeal for corporate support in addressing Bengaluru's traffic congestion. However, he explained that Wipro's Sarjapur campus, designated as a special economic zone (SEZ), must adhere to strict access control protocols due to its global service commitments.

"With respect to the specific suggestion of allowing public vehicular movement through our Sarjapur campus, 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," Mr. Premji wrote.

"That apart, it will also be appreciated that our Sarjapur campus is a SEZ providing services to global customers, our contractual conditions mandate stringent, non-negotiable access control norms for governance and compliance. Moreover, public vehicular movement through private property would not be effective as a sustainable, long-term solution," his letter continued.

Mr. Premji emphasized the necessity for a scientific, expert-led study to develop enduring solutions to reduce traffic congestion along Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road. He noted that since the ORR is a critical export-oriented corridor, it requires a comprehensive, data-driven approach rather than piecemeal remedies.