Bengaluru, Sep 23: Amid growing concerns over Bengaluru’s worsening traffic, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Wipro Founder Chairman Azim Premji, seeking his support in easing congestion on the Outer Ring Road (ORR). The CM requested Wipro to allow limited vehicular movement through its campus near Iblur Junction, citing expert assessments that such a step could reduce traffic by nearly 30% during peak hours.
In his letter, Siddaramaiah lauded Wipro’s contribution to Karnataka’s IT ecosystem and urged Premji to engage with government officials to work out a feasible plan. He stressed that such collaboration would improve mobility, commuter experience, and urban livability.
The appeal comes against the backdrop of complaints from IT firms located along the ORR. Rajesh Yabaji, Co-Founder and CEO of logistics unicorn BlackBuck, recently announced plans to move out of Bellandur citing poor road conditions and rising commute times. He later clarified that BlackBuck would stay in Bengaluru but relocate within the city, reaffirming its long-term commitment to the state.
Yabaji acknowledged that the ORR and Bengaluru’s tech ecosystem had enabled BlackBuck’s growth since 2015, while reiterating the need for urgent infrastructure improvements. His earlier remarks had sparked a storm, with industry leaders like Mohandas Pai and Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw warning of an “emergency situation” and urging the government to act swiftly.
Pai termed the situation a “big failure of governance,” tagging CM Siddaramaiah, Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar, and other officials on social media. Shaw echoed the concerns, demanding immediate measures.
Responding, Dy CM Shivakumar, who also oversees Bengaluru development, directed officials to repair potholes and submit daily reports, underlining the government’s urgency to address the city’s infrastructure crisis.
