Amit Bhatt
Amit Bhatt is the director- integrated transport, WRI India
Articles by Amit Bhatt
Why on-road safety must supersede vehicular speed in Gurugram
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON APR 04, 2020 07:37 PM IST
Its time to prioritise safety over speed. Only then we can make Gurugram a city where people walk by choice and not compulsion.
We need to reasses how to observe road safety week
By Amit Bhatt
PUBLISHED ON JAN 08, 2020 05:06 PM IST
Metro vs bus: Integrated public transport system need of the hour
By Amit Bhatt
PUBLISHED ON DEC 17, 2019 11:57 PM IST
City planners need to work on safe movement of women
By Amit Bhatt
PUBLISHED ON DEC 10, 2019 08:53 PM IST
Creating infra to provide safe commute for children will improve road safety for all
By Amit Bhatt
PUBLISHED ON DEC 03, 2019 11:54 PM IST
Haryana cannot afford to lose any more pedestrian lives on its roads
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON NOV 27, 2019 01:15 PM IST
Why is it so dangerous to walk on the streets in Haryana, and especially in Gurugram? The reasons are threefold.
Let’s curb pollution, a silent killer, for our children’s sake
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON NOV 20, 2019 08:09 AM IST
As per the State of Global Air 2018 report, the country lost 11 lakh people due to air pollution. But, we have still not understood the severity of the issue.
Gurugram must study Delhi’s free public transport scheme for women to make transportation affordable for all
By Amit Bhatt
PUBLISHED ON NOV 13, 2019 12:02 AM IST
Mexico City can show us the way in tackling increasing air pollution
By Amit Bhatt
PUBLISHED ON OCT 15, 2019 11:54 PM IST
Gurugram draft mobility plan must address regional connectivity issues
By Amit Bhatt
PUBLISHED ON OCT 01, 2019 10:56 PM IST
The success of Gurugram comprehensive mobility plan depends on implementation
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON SEP 18, 2019 07:51 AM IST
The CMP is a document that is prepared to anticipate and work on fulfilling the transportation needs of people and goods in cities and their surroundings.
Expensive mistakes: High cost, low ridership, location ensured failure of the Rapid Metro | Opinion
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON SEP 13, 2019 06:31 AM IST
Annual report of 2017-18 reveals that Rapid Metro earned more from advertisement than passenger traffic. About 60% of revenue came from advertisements while traffic revenue was only 39%.
Policy, pricing and reform — keys to address parking woes in cities
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON SEP 04, 2019 10:22 AM IST
What cities need is a total commitment to an area-wise parking plan with enforcement on parking along roads. Parking vehicles for free is not a right.
Substantive planning needed for introduction of electric buses
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON AUG 28, 2019 09:33 AM IST
Gurugram is the only city in Haryana to get electric buses under the Government of India’s second round of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (hybrid) and Electric Vehicles or FAME 2 scheme.
Decision to install traffic lights in Gurugram a step in the right direction
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON AUG 21, 2019 12:34 PM IST
Re-introducing traffic lights instead of U-turns will improve road safety, increase transit ridership and enhance non-motorised usage. All in all, it is perhaps the most sensible decision taken by the traffic police.
Respect natural topography of city to deal with monsoon woes
By Amit Bhatt
PUBLISHED ON AUG 07, 2019 12:05 PM IST
The natural drainage of the city must be taken into account while planning. Also, unnecessary concretising of the city’s elements, be it footpaths, drains, etc, should be stopped.
It is time to re-examine our traditional approach to road safety
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON JUL 31, 2019 02:39 PM IST
Road safety remains a serious issue in the state and the city. The Haryana Vision Zero, which promises to reduce road accidents by 20% by 2020, is taking the right steps in that direction
Raahgiri is a public movement,a platform for positive change |Opinion
Hindustan Times | By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON JUL 24, 2019 08:30 AM IST
Raahgiri Day was created by a handful of Gurugram residents who came together to advocate the need to create streets for all road users, and not only for just for motorists.
To build Gurugram of tomorrow, the city must move out of cars
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON JUL 17, 2019 07:47 AM IST
In Gurugram, the despair came on Monday morning as the traffic squad of a local developer with acres of property on either side of the junction removed the traffic circulation plan.
Optimise budget push to electric vehicles with mobility innovation
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON JUL 10, 2019 08:01 AM IST
Motor vehicles exhaust is one of the main reasons. As per UEInfo, it accounts for 30% of PM2.5 concentration in greater Delhi’s ‘airshed’. So, yes, EVs will address the issue of tailpipe emission.
For Gurugaman to work, improve the quality and quantity of buses
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON JUL 03, 2019 07:49 AM IST
The most important issues are monitoring and control of the bus service. Several times, I have seen drivers drive the bus as if they are driving a Ferrari on a Formula 1 track . This is dangerous, not only for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, but also for the health and safety of bus users.
3 notes for city from Delhi debate on free Metro rides for women
Hindustan Times, Gurugram | By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON JUN 27, 2019 05:28 PM IST
The state govt recently approved the ₹5,900-cr Metro project, involving construction of a 31-km Metro link. However, the question to ask would be — is it the right choice? Will it have the desired impact?
Cities must preserve natural infra to survive climate change crisis
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON JUN 19, 2019 08:00 AM IST
Climate change is real and cities have a big role to play in surviving and addressing this crisis.
The proposed Metro expansion in Gurugram needs careful planning
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON JUN 12, 2019 08:37 AM IST
The Metro expansion is unlikely to achieve desired results, if the authorities fail to take into account passenger demand and integration with other modes of public transport.
Plan to make public transport free in Delhi needs proper deliberation
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON JUN 05, 2019 07:54 AM IST
The official rationale behind this move is safety of women. The hypothesis is that getting more women in public transport will improve their safety.
Newly elected government must focus on transport to fuel growth
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON MAY 29, 2019 07:58 AM IST
The ministry of housing and urban affairs has already launched the ambitious Smart Cities Mission. It is also supporting the development of the Metro rail in a big way.
Making real time transit data public best bet to boost Gurugram’s bus service
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON MAY 22, 2019 11:49 AM IST
Gurugam’s bus service - Gurugraman - can address the issue of optimal usage by addressing problems around frequency, route, timings by disseminating information to consumers or by opening up its data and using private sector.
Gurugram can learn from Karol Bagh’s pedestrianisation project
Gurugram | By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON MAY 08, 2019 09:18 AM IST
Our agencies have still not understood the impact of a good pedestrianisation project. Therefore, pedestrianisation of Ajmal Khan Road can bring these three key learnings to Gurugram and rest of the country.
Improved emission norms may relegate diesel vehicles to past
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON MAY 01, 2019 09:00 AM IST
The BS-VI emission norm would come into force from April 1, 2020, across the country. The impact of transitioning to BS-VI will surely be positive for health and the environment. However, there is a much larger disruption that will happen due to this transition.
‘When it comes to infrastructure, we need simple, effective solutions’
By Amit Bhatt
UPDATED ON APR 24, 2019 11:16 AM IST
Before spending public money on expensive civic projects, authorities should spend time, planning and examining all aspects of the projects.