Government announces the establishment of Bus Rapid Transit

Yaoundé, the political capital of Cameroon, and the economic capital Douala, will soon welcome a mass transportation system which is the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a rapid transit and high capacity bus system.

At the 4th session of the Steering Committee of the project for the establishment of a mass transport system in Cameroon, held on Monday, August 31, 2015 in Yaoundé, the Brazilian consortium, Marco Polo-Queiroz Galvao-Tectrans, was selected for this project.

According to Cameroon Tribune on Tuesday, September 1, for the first phase of the project which consisted of the presentation of the feasibility studies, Alexandre Miguel Lopez, Director of the Engenharia Company, indicated that topographic and geotechnical pilot lines of Yaoundé and Douala studies have been completed. These feasibility studies with estimated cost which stands at FCFA 2 billion will be quickly complemented by detailed studies

This journal also revealed that, the driver phase, 21 km long, will extend from North to South, i.e. from Olembe to Ahala and will have 24 stations with several crosses. In the diagram, overpasses and subways will be constructed in some places of the province till Rond-point Nlongkak to Carrefour Warda and the Hilton Hotel.

At Douala, the 17 km corridor starts from the East to West. It will be between the crossroads from Carrefour des Douanes to Pk 17. According to experts, this is a system that will improve the quality of life of the populations through the bus with a capacity of 160 passengers.

Minister Jean Claude Mbwentchou, who was present during the presentation of this project, indicated his satisfaction, "despite some problems of understanding.” According to the Minister, this project could be extended to other regions especially in capital city that will host the matches of the Africa Nation Cup 2019. According experts of this Brazilian consortium, as soon as funds are available, the work will begin in January, 2017 and will be completed in 2018.

As a reminder, on April 24, 2014, the Cameroonian Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development signed a memorandum of understanding with Belgian company Prefarail, on the construction of a tramway in Yaoundé. Prefarail proposes to finance the construction of infrastructure, 50 km of tram to one hundred percent and manage it for a certain period before handing over the equipment to the State of Cameroon.

Since then, no information has been given regarding the continuation of the negotiations. Moreover, several observers believed that such a project would be difficult. The construction of a tramway required tracks equipped with flat rails implanted site own or built-in on highways road.

In addition, the tramway being electric traction equipment, many wondered if there would be enough power to make the project viable. Today it is the Bus Rapid Transit, which is being announced. Finally a mass transport system is constructed to relieve populations who increasingly find it hard to move around inside the cities.