The overrun, representing an additional financing need of 40.1%, is mainly due to the integration of 66 kilometers of additional access roads to connect peripheral neighborhoods to the pilot corridor, bringing the total length of secondary roads to 80 kilometers. The incorporation of these infrastructures increases the tax-free bill from 226 billion to 306.4 billion FCFA, to which 58.9 billion FCFA is added in value-added tax.

The completion deadline set for June 16, 2028, is pushing the World Bank to recommend a technical restructuring towards a streamlined network. Converting the project to simplified infrastructure would lower the average commercial speed from 35 km/h to a range of 18 to 25 km/h, while calling into question the objective of absorbing 535,000 passengers per day ensured by a fleet of 251 buses. Faced with this deadlock, the steering committee is requesting a tax waiver of 54 billion FCFA, leaving a net balance of 50 billion FCFA to be negotiated with international donors.

The lack of a definitive ruling on the exemption from import taxes and VAT is paralyzing the commitment of additional work tranches. The non-release of the reserved land plots for technical maintenance centers is delaying the realization of the public-private partnership responsible for providing the rolling stock.

Downsizing to a streamlined version of the transport network will reduce the initial investment costs while degrading the quality of service offered to users. The arbitration scheduled for the September 2026 review will seal the final economic model and the level of financial participation required from the Treasury.


Asaba

Tags: projet brt transport en commun financement infrastructures banque mondiale restructuration budget transports urbains développement durable