If the project materializes, Douala will join the exclusive group of African cities equipped with a modern Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, aimed at addressing urban mobility challenges in the context of rapid population growth.
Presidential Decrees Secure World Bank Funding
On July 22, 2024, President Paul Biya signed two decrees authorizing the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development to finalize agreements with World Bank Group institutions.
These agreements include a 126 billion FCFA loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and another 135 billion FCFA loan from the International Development Association (IDA).
Financing Douala’s Urban Mobility Project
This total of 261 billion FCFA will finance the Douala Urban Mobility Project (PMUD). The initiative aims to improve traffic flow in the economic hub by introducing a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
Funding Breakdown and Government Contribution
This funding covers 77.8% of the project’s total cost, estimated at 335.3 billion FCFA. The remaining 62.1 billion FCFA will be mobilized through public-private partnerships, while the Cameroonian government, through the Urban Community of Douala (CUD), will contribute 12.4 billion FCFA for compensation and resettlement of affected individuals.
The construction of the BRT network will require 291.9 billion FCFA, representing 87% of the total budget.
Delayed Implementation and Revised Timeline
The World Bank approved these loans on June 2, 2022. The President’s authorizing decrees come more than two years after the approval of these funds, with a closing date set for June 16, 2028.
Cameroon has just under four years to utilize the 261 billion FCFA provided by the Bretton Woods institution.
The delay in signing the decrees has caused a delay of over a year compared to the initial timeline. For instance, the signing of the financing agreements was initially planned for the first quarter of 2023, and the city’s mayor, Roger Mbassa Ndine, projected the project’s start in July 2024.
Now, the signing is expected to occur after the first half of 2024, and the start date for construction remains uncertain.
BRT System to Transform Douala’s Transportation
The BRT, a high-level bus service public transportation system, promises to revolutionize travel in Cameroon’s economic capital.
It will feature three main lines covering 28 km, with 44 stations and four terminals. The project also includes infrastructure such as sewers, a water supply system, improved public lighting, and the purchase of buses.
Additional Project Components
In addition to modern transportation infrastructure, the project encompasses urban development around BRT stations, strengthened institutional capacity for existing public transport operators, and an optimized traffic management system.