Why CRS Makes Sense? Socio-Economic Benefits Analysis!

All public utility projects are weighed against the socio-economic benefits that it brings in. Namma Railu - Bengaluru Commuter Rail Service is no exception to that rule.  World over it is acknowledge that investment in public transport system and infrastructure is always a PROFITABLE venture. It not only brings in economic returns but also a sleeve of socio returns that society and community at large benefits.

Here is one such effort in that direction. Hopefully all concerned would be able to appreciate the benefits that CRS would be bringing in.

Socio-Economics Benefits of Commuter Rail Service are measured in terms of:

1. Affordable Mobility Benefits - Connectivity, Savings in trip cost, affordable mobility
2. Congestion Management Benefits - Savings in Fuel, Less Vehicles on Roads
3. Social Benefits - Health, Environment
4. Economic Returns - Business, Sales, Employment Generation, Tax Revenues

Let us analyze each one of them with the help of data that has been computed exclusively for Bengaluru CRS.

1. Affordable Mobility Benefits

Proposed CRS offers: 

Comparative Analysis - Case Study of Existing YPR-Hosur passenger service from Railways

2. Congestion Management Benefits

A comparative analysis of CRS with Bus and Car. 

Pls bear in mind that, these are initial numbers. Even with these initial numbers, benefits from CRS are:

1. 50 thousand car trips can be saved
2. Roads will be less of 50 thousand cars - Less travel time for others
3. Less fatalities - Less number of road blocks and traffic jams
4. Total Savings in trip cost compare to using cars is Rs. 60 Lakhs daily

3. Social Benefits

1. Enables people to seek employment away from home.
2. Provides Industry and Business with labor with econmic and affordable mobility.
3. Helps Reduce unemployment, hence reduce and prevent social problems
4. Proposed Bengaluru CRS offers people affordable housing in towns but still be bale to work in Bengaluru
5. Will stimulate economic growth in adjacent towns and catchment areas resulting in lifting standard of living
6. Will help people make more trips seeking health care services, Shopping and recreation for families and youth. In absence of CRS, the loss in this sector would look like this:

   Transit Choices for Healthcare purposes in absence of CRS Service	In percent
   By Alternate Transport Means	48%
   Look for opportunities near home	23%
   Not be able to seek medical assistance	25%
   Others	4%

7. CRS offers less fuel usage meaning less pollution and helps environment
8. CRS would encourage people to walk, bicycle, meaning more physical workout resulting in overall physical health of people.
9. CRS offers the best help for students and faculty with economical fares in reaching educational institutes. More opportunities, more skilled workers. In absence of CRS service, the loss could be like this:

   Transit Choices for Education purposes in absence of CRS	In percentage
   By Alternate Transport Means	48%
   Look for opportunities near home	15%
   Not be able to attend School/College	13%
   Missed Classes and related activities	22%
   Others	2%

4. Economic Returns

1. Every Rs.100 investment would result in Rs.600 in economic returns
2. CRS operation and maintenance orders would result in cyclic business activity starting from purchase of raw material untill products are made ready for use.
3. Capital Project and Operations investment would create employment
4. More transit activity at stations would encourage business activity in the vicinity
5. Affordable mobility would encourage more freight movement between Bengaluru and its adjacent towns helping specially small time traders, farmers and entrepenurs.
6. Savings acrued via trip cost would ultimately will be spent in other needs resulting in increase in consumer spendings.

NOTE: HLB Social Economics report on 'Socio-Economic Benefits of Transit System in Wisconson' was used for claculating relative data such as cost trip savings, ridership segmentation etc.

Calling experts on Praja who can help us translate or model other socio-economic benefits in terms of hard numbers and money? Leave a comment here.

Attached is presentation on this for quick refernce. This is work in progress.

Suggestion, comments welcome.