The Board of Directors of the World Bank last month approved a loan of 260.8 billion FCFA for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon.
This significant financing is distributed as follows: 135.2 billion FCFA will be disbursed by the concessional window (IDA) of the World Bank, and the rest (125.6 billion FCFA) by the IBRD, a non-concessional window.
The overall cost of the project amounts to 335.3 billion FCFA. The World Bank will cover 77.8% of the financing. The Cameroonian State will contribute 12.4 billion and 62.1 billion will be mobilized in the form of public-private partnerships.
The BRT project dates back to 2014. The objective for the authorities is to improve urban mobility in this city. Concretely, according to the information provided, this program provides for the construction of 28km of lanes dedicated to buses and fully separated with interchanges; a water supply system, public lighting; 44 stations; 4 terminals; the purchase of buses, the establishment of a traffic management system; for a total cost of 291.9 billion CFA francs (87%).
The rest of the envelope (43.4 billion) will be devoted to urban development around bus stations, to strengthening the institutional and professional capacities of existing public transport operators, as well as to project management.
According to the mayor of the city of Douala, Roger Mbassa Ndine, the project could actually start during this year 2022, thanks in particular to the disbursement of the World Bank.
By OMA Newsletter N° 768 of 05/07/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
