News / Columns / Amit Bhatt

Amit Bhatt

Amit Bhatt is the director- integrated transport, WRI India

Articles by Amit Bhatt

Plan to make public transport free in Delhi needs proper deliberation

The official rationale behind this move is safety of women. The hypothesis is that getting more women in public transport will improve their safety.

Delhi Metro was catering close to a daily 27 lakh passenger rides per day before the fares were hiked in May 2017. Currently, the Metro usage is around 23 lakh daily trips per day.(HT Photo)

opinion

Updated on Jun 05, 2019 07:54 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Newly elected government must focus on transport to fuel growth

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.

The election is finally over, and the Modi government swept the polls with an unprecedented vote count.(Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on May 29, 2019 07:58 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Making real time transit data public best bet to boost Gurugram’s bus service

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.

People in Gurugram crowd into public transport after Metro service operations on the Yellow Line were hit between Sultanpur station and Chattarpur Metro station, on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.(Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)

cities

Updated on May 22, 2019 11:49 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Gurugram can learn from Karol Bagh’s pedestrianisation project

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.

Gurugram has a very vibrant Sadar Bazaar, but ask anyone about going there? I bet, the response would be an emphatic no. That’s because people don’t want to get stuck in Sadar Bazaar. The conversation around pedestrianisation of this place does happen once in a while, but nothing moves forward.

cities

Updated on May 08, 2019 09:18 AM IST

Gurugram | ByAmit Bhatt

Improved emission norms may relegate diesel vehicles to past

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.

Maruti Suzuki is India’s largest car manufacturer with a market share of over 50%. The announcement around diesel vehicle is big, bold move, which is backed by pure economics, apart from emissions.(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

cities

Updated on May 01, 2019 09:00 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

‘When it comes to infrastructure, we need simple, effective solutions’

Before spending public money on expensive civic projects, authorities should spend time, planning and examining all aspects of the projects.

If our cities can even spend a fraction of the time around thinking about the problem, we will get the solutions that are useful, contextual and functional.(Parveen Kumar / HT File)

opinion

Updated on Apr 24, 2019 11:16 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Past experiences should guide us in rolling out electric vehicles

The ministry of urban development (MoUD), now known as the ministry of housing & urban affairs (MoHUA), approved around ₹5,000 crore for the bus-funding scheme in 2009. As per the scheme, MoUD jointly funded procurement of around 15,000 buses for public transport in 65 Indian cities.

the biggest learning would come from looking at the funding of buses under the erstwhile Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNRUM) scheme.(Mint)

cities

Updated on Apr 17, 2019 08:45 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Pollution a public health disaster, needs a concerted combat strategy

The air pollution conversation in India usually develops around the start of winter. This coincides with two episodic events, i.e., Diwali and crop burning. The conversation ends around the new year, which again coincides with the change in weather.

Gurugram had only three good air quality days in all of 2018.(HT Photo)

opinion

Published on Apr 10, 2019 04:50 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Gurugram | ByAmit Bhatt

Urban areas should be given fair representation in political economy

Reviewing the process by which urban population is counted, allocating more seats in Lok Sabha and strengthening local governments are steps that need to be undertaken to make our cities engines of growth.

City residents and local governments don’t have much of a say in how the cities are run or managed and a lot of it is due to their underrepresentation in the political scenario. This is causing political neglect.(HT File Photo)

elections

Updated on Apr 03, 2019 07:57 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Data penetration, innovative application can help Indian cities counter climate change

Urbanization is not new to mankind. In fact, it is believed that the process of urbanisation started in the ancient Mesopotamia in the Uruk Period and around 3,000 BCE. However, thanks to technology, the pace has changed only in the last few decades.

Today more than half of the world’s population lives in towns and cities. This number is expected to rise to two-thirds by 2050.(AP File Photo)

columns

Updated on Mar 28, 2019 08:18 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Model streets need to cater to all road users, not just motor vehicles

As part of the project, the MCG will improve the road quality, built toilets, install CCTV cameras, remove encroachment, etc.

Last week, it was reported in media that the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has started the work on converting two busy city roads into “model” roads. (Photo by Yogendra Kumar / Hindustan Times)(Yogendra Kumar/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Mar 20, 2019 07:40 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

OPINION | Why Gurugram needs to keep an eye on the national capital’s electric bus experiment

A World Health Organization’s study estimates that nine out of every 10 people in the world breathe air that contains high levels of pollutants.

Electric bus trial runs have been happening in India for a long time now. Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and many other cities have run a couple of electric buses.(HT File Photo)

columns

Published on Mar 13, 2019 07:57 AM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Take these 3 steps to make Delhi walkable

In India, being able to walk safely and conveniently in cities is a rarity, in fact many a times risky. The 2011 Census revealed that a third of Indians walk to work, making it the largest mode of commuting.

By design, city streets should be safe, engaging and lively. They should encourage more people to walk.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 07:25 AM IST

New Delhi | ByAmit Bhatt

Our cities can learn from Delhi’s rationalisation of bus operations

While quantity matters when it comes to measuring success of public transportation systems, optimal use of existing fleet of buses can help improve the quality of service.

The Delhi Government has launched the first phase of rationalising the bus routes through the Connect Delhi scheme which aims to provide bus service to everyone within 500 metres of walking distance.(HT File)

cities

Published on Feb 27, 2019 01:00 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Gurugram must treat its parks, forests as green infrastructure

Studies have attributed monetary value to services trees provide, such as health benefits, temperature control, carbon absorption, among others. It’s time we started treating forests as engines of growth.

Students from Gurugram schools protest against the proposed six-lane highway through Gurugram’s Aravalli Biodiversity Park.(Yogendra Kumar/HT File)

cities

Updated on Feb 20, 2019 03:19 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

When it comes to safety on road, efforts must go beyond lip service

Fixing age-old road safety laws, designing safer infrastructure and sticking to speed limits are some of the steps needed to bring down the spiralling number of road fatalities every year.

In the last 30 years, road traffic deaths in India have tripled from around 36,000 per year to 150,000 per year.(HT File / Photo used for representational purpose)

cities

Updated on Feb 13, 2019 02:55 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

India’s urbanisation not a problem, but an opportunity to grow sustainably

With India, China, Nigeria expected to account for a third of world’s urban growth by 2050, it’s time we gave cities, big and small, their due by meeting their unique needs in a planned way.

It is important to develop a planning framework that responds to the needs and context of the city.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Feb 06, 2019 03:06 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Sharing road space, vehicles, data could end congestion in our cities

As we respond to vehicular congestion by building road infrastructure, excluding key factors, such as data and kind of vehicles, from design plans could leave cities under a mound of cars.

Our streets are full of different kinds of vehicles ranging from bicycles, cycle rickshaws, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses and cars. Yet, the focus is always towards moving cars faster, even at a cost of other vehicles.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Jan 17, 2019 03:50 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Pedestrian infra must dictate road design as more people walk to work

In Gurugram’s municipal corporation area, the largest mode of travel is walking at 27%, while car use is 10%. Yet we see every road is designed exclusively for motor vehicles.

cities

Updated on Jan 09, 2019 03:09 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Go Raahgiri way to solve urban planning problems of Gurugram

Gurugram’s most basic mobility woes prevail because the solutions are being crafted in isolation, with no integration among agencies and no feedback from commuters.

People have fun during Raahgiri at Sushant Lok, Gurugram, May 28, 2017.(Sanjeev Verma/HT File)

cities

Updated on Nov 21, 2018 03:27 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

India must emulate China to fight pollution

India cannot and should not blindly copy China, but it can surely use the framework for addressing air pollution— a year-round problem in our country.

Cyclists with covered faces ride in heavy smog & air pollution at Gurugram - Delhi Expressway, Saturday, November 10, 2018.(Yogendra Kumar/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Nov 14, 2018 02:41 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Busting three myths holding us back from improving air quality

The problem of air pollution can broadly be categorised into two parts — indoor and outdoor. Fourteen of the 20 cities with the most polluted air in the world are from India.

A commuter seen wearing mask as air pollution reaches hazardous level, at Khandsa road, in Gurugram, November 05, 2018.(Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 07, 2018 12:44 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

World cities checked vehicular congestion through creativity, not by widening roads

If the problem is to solve the movement of passengers between Delhi and Gurugram, then what can be the solution, if not a road through the biodiversity park?

Metrobus in Istanbul helped decongest the Bosphorus Bridge, which once faced worse congestion than NH8. The buses get segregated lanes on the expressway and complete the 42km journey in 60 minutes against the two hours for cars.(Sourced)

cities

Updated on Oct 31, 2018 04:03 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

A sound policy regarding electric vehicles can be a game changer

Introducing electric vehicles in the state will not only improve the air quality, but also create more employment opportunities and foster innovation in the transportation sector.

An electric car manufactured by Tata Motors. Last year, the sale of electric vehicles surpassed the 30 lac mark worldwide.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 18, 2018 02:21 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Three reasons why a paradigm change is needed in Metro Rail planning

If done right, an integrated Metro system can do wonders for a city. If not, these will be reduced to legacy systems, the price of which would be paid by the coming generations

According to reports, Gurugram’s Rapid Metro has sought a compensation of nearly <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>1,500 cores from the Haryana government because of losses incurred due to apparent breach of contract conditions(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 30, 2018 01:57 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Indian cities need robust governance mechanisms, not titular heads

Great cities are driven by great mayors. Eventually, India will also have to empower local governance. Till then, increasing the capacity of civic agencies will be better for our cities rather than creating multiple agencies.

Vehicles wade through a waterlogged street after heavy rains at Golf Course extension road near Emaar building Sector 66, in Gurugram, Monday, September 24, 2018. A World Bank study has described India’s urbanisation as messy and hidden.(Yogendra Kumar/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 26, 2018 12:55 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

NCR states must come together to chart a road map against pollution

Air flow does not follow administrative or political boundaries. Therefore, it is important that state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan must come together to curb air pollution.

cities

Updated on Sep 19, 2018 03:24 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Three issues need to be addressed to ensure success of Gurugram bus service

A good public bus system is the backbone of a city. A bus system goes beyond providing transport. It has the potential to transform a city.

Gurugram’s own city bus service, Gurugaman, was launched on Sunday, September 2, 2018.(Yogendra Kumar/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 12, 2018 02:33 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Public consultation necessitates a serious push, not a symbolic effort

Why is public consultation done only for privately funded projects and not publicly funded ones? More than 99% of the infra works are publicly funded.

The Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority, GMDA, was recently congratulated by many on the social media for calling a public consultation on the construction of a foot overbridge (FOB) near Shankar Chowk by a private developer.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 05, 2018 12:49 PM IST

ByAmit Bhatt

Road design fundamentally wrong

Lack of drains alongside roads, massive tree felling to widen roads and unreliable infrastructure are the main reasons for the problem.

Amit Bhatt, director of integrated transport, WRI India.(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Aug 29, 2018 12:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Gurugram | ByAmit Bhatt

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Amit Bhatt

Amit Bhatt is the director- integrated transport, WRI India

The official rationale behind this move is safety of women. The hypothesis is that getting more women in public transport will improve their safety.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Before spending public money on expensive civic projects, authorities should spend time, planning and examining all aspects of the projects.

The ministry of urban development (MoUD), now known as the ministry of housing & urban affairs (MoHUA), approved around ₹5,000 crore for the bus-funding scheme in 2009. As per the scheme, MoUD jointly funded procurement of around 15,000 buses for public transport in 65 Indian cities.

The air pollution conversation in India usually develops around the start of winter. This coincides with two episodic events, i.e., Diwali and crop burning. The conversation ends around the new year, which again coincides with the change in weather.

Reviewing the process by which urban population is counted, allocating more seats in Lok Sabha and strengthening local governments are steps that need to be undertaken to make our cities engines of growth.

Urbanization is not new to mankind. In fact, it is believed that the process of urbanisation started in the ancient Mesopotamia in the Uruk Period and around 3,000 BCE. However, thanks to technology, the pace has changed only in the last few decades.

As part of the project, the MCG will improve the road quality, built toilets, install CCTV cameras, remove encroachment, etc.

A World Health Organization’s study estimates that nine out of every 10 people in the world breathe air that contains high levels of pollutants.

In India, being able to walk safely and conveniently in cities is a rarity, in fact many a times risky. The 2011 Census revealed that a third of Indians walk to work, making it the largest mode of commuting.

While quantity matters when it comes to measuring success of public transportation systems, optimal use of existing fleet of buses can help improve the quality of service.

Studies have attributed monetary value to services trees provide, such as health benefits, temperature control, carbon absorption, among others. It’s time we started treating forests as engines of growth.

Fixing age-old road safety laws, designing safer infrastructure and sticking to speed limits are some of the steps needed to bring down the spiralling number of road fatalities every year.

With India, China, Nigeria expected to account for a third of world’s urban growth by 2050, it’s time we gave cities, big and small, their due by meeting their unique needs in a planned way.

As we respond to vehicular congestion by building road infrastructure, excluding key factors, such as data and kind of vehicles, from design plans could leave cities under a mound of cars.

In Gurugram’s municipal corporation area, the largest mode of travel is walking at 27%, while car use is 10%. Yet we see every road is designed exclusively for motor vehicles.

Gurugram’s most basic mobility woes prevail because the solutions are being crafted in isolation, with no integration among agencies and no feedback from commuters.

India cannot and should not blindly copy China, but it can surely use the framework for addressing air pollution— a year-­round problem in our country.

The problem of air pollution can broadly be categorised into two parts — indoor and outdoor. Fourteen of the 20 cities with the most polluted air in the world are from India.

If the problem is to solve the movement of passengers between Delhi and Gurugram, then what can be the solution, if not a road through the biodiversity park?

Introducing electric vehicles in the state will not only improve the air quality, but also create more employment opportunities and foster innovation in the transportation sector.

If done right, an integrated Metro system can do wonders for a city. If not, these will be reduced to legacy systems, the price of which would be paid by the coming generations

Great cities are driven by great mayors. Eventually, India will also have to empower local governance. Till then, increasing the capacity of civic agencies will be better for our cities rather than creating multiple agencies.

Air flow does not follow administrative or political boundaries. Therefore, it is important that state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan must come together to curb air pollution.

A good public bus system is the backbone of a city. A bus system goes beyond providing transport. It has the potential to transform a city.

Why is public consultation done only for privately funded projects and not publicly funded ones? More than 99% of the infra works are publicly funded.

Lack of drains alongside roads, massive tree felling to widen roads and unreliable infrastructure are the main reasons for the problem.

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India cannot and should not blindly copy China, but it can surely use the framework for addressing air pollution— a year-round problem in our country.