KUCHING: The joint venture (JV) company, ICSB-CRECM-NYTE, comprised of Ibraco Construction Sdn Bhd, China Railway Engineering Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, and Nanyang Tunnel Engineering Sdn Bhd, has won the tender for Package 1 of the Blue Line under the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project.
Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Metro) stated in a press release that the tender covers the construction and completion of infrastructure works from Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Stutong. The works include constructing a 15 km Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) alignment, starting from the Depot in Rembus along the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway up to Stutong, including seven stations, and a bridge crossing Sungai Kuap. The entire lane will be at-grade.
This joint venture was one of the 12 bids submitted to Sarawak Metro and the contract is valued at RM568.61 million.
Sarawak Metro, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), has been entrusted with implementing the KUTS Project under the purview of the Ministry of Transport Sarawak.
The KUTS project is being developed in phases, with Phase 1 consisting of the Blue, Red, and Green Lines. The Blue Line will run from Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Hikmah Exchange in the city centre; the Red Line from Kuching Sentral to Pending; and the Green Line from Pending to Damai.
Covering a total distance of 70 kilometres, Phase 1 of the KUTS project is scheduled to begin passenger services in stages, starting from the fourth quarter of 2025 and expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
The project’s backbone is the introduction of a zero-emission mode of transportation, comprising ART vehicles and a hydrogen-powered feeder bus network. Both vehicles are powered by hydrogen fuel cells, supporting Sarawak’s effort to reduce carbon emissions and aligning with the state’s agenda to advance the hydrogen economy.
