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access: 10min. walk from Ichigaya Station, JR Chuo/Sobu Line 10min. walk from Ichigaya Station Exit A1, Tokyo Toei Shinjuku Line 8 min. walk from Ichigaya Station Exit 6, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho/Nanboku Line

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Monthly Highlights of Research Activities: October 14 is Railway Day!

2025.10.09

Photo: JICA/ Shinichi Kuno

In Japan, October 14 has been designated as “Railway Day” to commemorate the opening of the country’s first railway between Shimbashi and Yokohama in 1872.

Railways played a vital role in supporting the movement of people and goods, driving economic growth and enriching lives during Japan’s development. They were also closely tied to international cooperation. For example, Japan’s Tokaido Shinkansen was developed with support from the World Bank after World War II. Building on that experience, Japan has also provided various forms of assistance to railway projects in developing countries.

At the JICA Ogata Research Institute, we conduct a wide range of studies on railway projects and their impacts. Here are a few highlights.

Urban Mass Rapid Transit in Asia

Final Report | A Study on Asia’s Infrastructure Needs: Estimating Urban Rail Infrastructure Needs (April 2018)

This study presents surveys of 24 Asian countries, including Armenia, Mongolia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, and forecasts the total length of the mass rapid transit (MRT) routes needed to be constructed by 2030 and the investment in MRT development expected between 2016 and 2030 in each country.

Click here for details.

Learn more: Research on Demand Estimate on Infrastructure in Asia

Delhi Metro (India)

Working Paper | No.207 Heterogeneous Effects of Urban Public Transportation on Employment by Gender: Evidence from the Delhi Metro (March 2020)

In many developing countries, the mobility of women is traditionally constrained. This paper analyzes how the Delhi Metro—a major urban mass transit system in India—has affected male and female labor force participation, using township-level panel data from Delhi for the years 1991, 2001, and 2011.

Click here for details.

Project History | Madam, This Is Our Metro! (manga version)
The Delhi Metro opened in 2002, and the city now boasts one of the world's largest subway networks, surpassing even the Tokyo Metro in size. This manga portrays not only the success of the subway project, but also the life of Abe Reiko, the protagonist of this manga.

Railway Projects in Manila (the Philippines)

Paper | Finance Arrangements and Governance Modes Toward Sustainable Infrastructure: The Case of Urban Railway Projects in Manila, the Philippines (September 2024)

As the concept of sustainable infrastructure gains traction, discussions continue around the factors that enable its implementation. This paper focuses on the financial and governance aspects using past railway projects in Manila as case studies.

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Learn more: Research on Sustainable Development of Developing Countries: an Assessment of the Sustainability of Developing Countries Using the Inclusive Wealth Index and Investigating the Success Factors for Sustainable Infrastructure Development

Dhaka Metro (Bangladesh)

Discussion Paper | No. 35 The Impact of Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit on Road Congestion (February 2025)

The Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is the first rail-based urban mass transit system in Bangladesh and is expected to reduce the severe traffic congestion in Dhaka. This study examines the impact of the introduction of the Dhaka MRT Line 6 on road congestion, evaluating its impact using a two-group event study evaluation design comprising a multiple-period version of the difference-in-difference.

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Learn more: Empirical research on the social and economic impacts of infrastructure projects

Jakarta MRT (Indonesia)

Paper | The Impact of Urban Transportation Investment on Property Values: Evidence from the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (August 2025)

This paper investigates the impact of Indonesia’s first urban railway project—the Jakarta MRT—on property values. Using panel data on commercial office and residential apartment rents along the MRT line, the study applies a difference-in-differences estimation in a quasi-natural experimental setting.