The ambitious Yaoundé bypass project in Cameroon has attracted a new player: Ashoka Buildcon Limited, an Indian infrastructure giant. The company has formally submitted a bid exceeding 1.26 trillion FCFA (excluding taxes) for this urban road initiative, proposing an integrated solution that covers design, construction, and financial structuring. The proposal was formally presented on June 9 to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the project.
Vinit Chitale, Ashoka Buildcon’s global business development head, outlined a plan centered on the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model. Under this arrangement, a single contractor handles all aspects of the project—from engineering and procurement to construction and delivery. The Indian firm also expressed readiness to assist in mobilizing financial resources, a critical advantage given that the funding consortium remains incomplete.
a 90-kilometer bypass to ease traffic congestion in Cameroon’s capital
Spanning 90.54 kilometers in a dual 2-lane configuration, the bypass will cut through four departments: Mfoundi, Lékié, Mefou-et-Afamba, and Mefou-et-Akono. Its expansive design anticipates future upgrades, such as a dedicated expressway or a public transport corridor. The route is divided into four segments: Mbankomo to Nkolméyang, Nkolméyang to Nkozoa, Nkozoa to Minkoameyos, and Minkoameyos back to Mbankomo.
The project includes 16 interchanges, multiple viaducts, and hydraulic works to enhance safety along the alignment. Recent ministry assessments indicate that the purely road-based component will require 794.7 billion FCFA (excluding taxes). An additional 469 billion FCFA is earmarked for urban development poles in Mbankomo, Mfou, Soa, and Okola. The total investment reaches 1.26 trillion FCFA (excluding taxes).
When converted to per-kilometer costs, the figures underscore the project’s scale. The road infrastructure alone costs nearly 8.8 billion FCFA per kilometer, while including associated urban poles pushes the figure to about 14 billion FCFA per kilometer—one of the highest capital outlays in the subregion.
T3 segment emerges as a showcase for European lenders
Due to financial constraints, the Cameroonian government has prioritized the T3 segment, a 22.8-kilometer stretch linking Nkozoa (National Road 1) to Minkoameyos at the Yaoundé-Douala highway junction. This section is pivotal as it would intercept significant transit traffic before it reaches the capital, easing pressure on central roads.
The European Union and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have already signaled strong interest in financing T3. However, their participation hinges on unresolved prerequisites, including compensation for affected communities, environmental impact studies, and finalization of a resettlement action plan. Ashoka Buildcon’s proposal could provide additional flexibility in addressing these requirements.
Yet, key questions linger. The exact legal framework for the contract, financing terms, potential state guarantees, and how the Indian proposal aligns with existing European financing for T3 remain unresolved. A hybrid model blending concessional European funds with Indian contributions for other segments is under consideration.
Ashoka Buildcon: a diversified Indian infrastructure leader
Ashoka Buildcon Limited is a major Indian player in road infrastructure, operating across EPC, public-private partnerships, BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer), and the Hybrid Annuity Model—a structure where the government covers part of the investment while the operator recovers the balance through annuities. The company also has a presence in energy, rail, and building sectors.
For Cameroon’s authorities, Ashoka Buildcon’s appeal lies in its ability to offer a seamless package of engineering, execution, and financing. However, no decision has been made yet. The submission appears to be an expression of interest in a technically mature project still awaiting financial closure. The transformation of a long-matured dossier into an active construction site remains the ultimate test for Yaoundé.
