BY NATASHA JEE & ALEXANDR LORNA
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Phase one of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project was officially launched today (Dec 16).
It also marked the start of works for the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) depot here.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg was present to officiate at the project launch that was held at the proposed site for Sarawak Metro’s ART depot or called Rembus Depot for the Blue Line – one of the three lines to be constructed under phase one of the KUTS project.
Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain in his speech said SEDC, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sarawak Metro, will implement the KUTS project, which will be implemented in phases; starting with phase one – for the development of the Blue Line, Red Line and Green Line.
“The official launch today coincides with the start of the advanced works for the ART depot located here in Kota Samarahan, or what we refer to as the ‘Rembus Depot’.
“The Rembus Depot will be built on an 80-acre site, which will also house the depot for the KUTS project’s hydrogen feeder buses as well as SEDC Energy Sdn Bhd’s hydrogen production plant.
“Other facilities at this depot include our hydrogen refuelling facility, stabling yard, test track, automatic wash plant, mechanical and infrastructure workshop, and administration building,” he said during the launch of the project.
He said the depot is scheduled to begin operation in the fourth quarter of 2025, coinciding with the opening of stage one of the ART passenger service for the Blue Line.
“The backbone of the KUTS project is of course the introduction of the ART vehicles, which are powered by hydrogen fuel cells, and the ART will be supported by a network of hydrogen-powered feeder buses, which will provide the first-mile and last-mile connectivity for the KUTS,” he said.
He also said the passenger service for the ART is scheduled to be introduced in stages, starting from the fourth quarter of 2025.
The first phase of the KUTS Project involves the Blue Line which will cover from the Rembus Depot in Kota Samarahan to Hikmah Exchange in Kuching city centre, covering a distance of 27.6km; the Red Line is from Kuching Sentral to Pending, covering a distance of 12.3km; and the Green Line is from Pending to Damai Central in Santubong, covering a distance of 30km.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Metro has already awarded the contracts for System Package 1 and System Package 2 of the KUTS Project in July and November, respectively.
The System Package 1 contract, valued at RM1.425 billion, is for the supply of the rolling stock, which is the hydrogen-powered ART vehicles; depot equipment and maintenance vehicles; signalling and control system; and automatic platform gate.
As for System Package 2, valued at RM448 million, it is for the supply of telecommunication, supervisory control and data acquisition, automatic fare collection; computerised maintenance management system,operation control centre, and information technology system.
In addition, the latest was the award of the contract for the construction and completion of the advanced works for the Rembus Depot, which is valued at RM64.3 million.
Photos: UKAS
