By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Nov 27: Blue Line Package 1 works from Rembus to Riveria will commence on December 1 while works on Red Line from Kuching Central to Pending in the first quarter of 2024.
In stating this, Sarawak Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the Green Line infrastructure package is currently at the design stage, and work is expected to commence by the third quarter of 2024.
He further unveiled that the procurement of 55 feeder buses is targeted for re-tender in Q1 2024, the Hydrogen Production Plant within Rembus Depot to tender in Q1 2024 and the Feeder Bus Depot in Rembus Depot by Q2 2024.
As of October 2023, he said, the overall actual progress of Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) Phase 1 stands at 14.43 per cent, where capital expenditure has reached RM403.43 million, reflecting the financial commitment to advancing this transformative project.
The groundwork for the Rembus Depot as the central hub for the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system’s operations and administration is ongoing, he added.
“To date, the progress stands at 33.54 per cent, and it is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2024,” said Lee when he delivered his ministerial winding speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly today.
Lee, who is Senadin assemblyman (GPS-SUPP), said several other tenders for the KUTS Phase 1 project are at various stages, while tenders for Rembus Depot and associated works, Red Line Package 1, Blue Line Package 1 have been awarded.
On ART, he said the prototype hydrogen ART vehicle, which arrived in Kuching, had undergone a successful two-month run at Isthmus in September and October.
“Throughout the engineering run stages, the Prototype ART vehicle has covered a total distance of 5,407 kilometres, encompassing both its Stage 1 Engineering Run in China and Stage 2 at Isthmus,” said Lee.
On the hydrogen bus trial operation, he said, as of October 2023, the three units of buses have recorded a total of 46,374 passengers.
The average monthly ridership for 2023, he added, has notably surged to 1,832 passengers, marking a 38 per cent increase from the previous year’s average of 1,331 passengers per month. — DayakDaily
