Douala:Commuters stranded in traffic congestion

Most taxis avoid the stretch while the few commercial bikes still plying the road now charge exorbitant fares.

Driving from Bonaberi to Round Point Deido and other neighbourhoods across the Bonaberi Bridge in Douala is still a nightmare. A queue of heavy-duty vehicles, private cars, few cabs and a sea of commercial motorbikes, was the scenario as early as 6:30 am on May 23, 2016. Some inhabitants heading to work in town were lucky to board bikes after spending over one and half hours waiting for taxis.

Commercial bike riders now take advantage of the situation to charge exorbitant fares, with helpless commuters having no option but to get to work at all cost. The riders’ ability to beat the gridlocks has left commuters with no choice, but to pay the high fares. Traders travelling from Nouvelle Route, Cimetière, for the Douala Central Market, pay FCFA 1,000 instead of FCFA 500, while those heading to Rond-Point Deido pay FCFA 500 instead of the usual rate of 250 FCFA.

Due to the heavy traffic, some taxi drivers, after bearing the standstill for about 45 minutes, prefer to take a U-turns, oblivious of the plight of passengers. According to a taxi driver, the amount of fuel used in crossing Wouri Bridge is more than FCFA 1,250 five passengers would have paid. Though authorities have taken a number of measures, including the Senior Divisional Officer’s order restricting trucks on the stretch from 2 pm to 10 pm from Fridays to Sundays, the traffic congestion persists.

The on-going road rehabilitation on the Western entrance to Douala accounts for the horrible traffic jams. Though work on some portions of the road is over, inhabitants and commuters will continue to endure the nightmare for as long as construction lasts.