BY JACINTHA JOLENE
KUCHING: Industry players have responded positively to Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd’s (Sarawak Metro) ongoing tender exercise for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) Project’s System Package 1.
According to Sarawak Metro, a subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), this was an expected outcome as there was a lot of interest generated from its rolling stock vendor registration exercise conducted in mid-2021.
“In the previous year, we advertised in both international and national magazines, inviting companies to register as rolling stock sellers and the reaction was extremely enthusiastic, with companies from all over the world participating.
“Sarawak Metro also anticipated that these businesses will develop partnerships with local players, which would serve as a potential platform for the transfer of technology, where it would be beneficial to the state’s industry,” the company said in a statement
on Monday (Jan 24).
System Package 1 of the KUTS project contains the supply of rolling stock (Hydrogen Vehicle), Depot Equipment & Maintenance Vehicle, Signalling & Control System, and Automatic Platform Gate.
The company said contract for the winning bidder is likely to be issued in the second quarter of this year, with engineering works on the KUTS project beginning in the third quarter.
It said the chosen bids would be extensively examined to ensure that the project’s goals are met.
“Sarawak Metro is committed to conducting a thorough and comprehensive evaluation process to guarantee that only the best are chosen to carry out this noble project which aims to relieve traffic congestion in Greater Kuching as well as modernise and decarbonise the city’s public transportation system.
“It will be implemented in two phases, with Phase 1 involving the construction of two lines, the Samarahan Line (28 kilometres from Rembus to the city centre) and the Serian Line (24 kilometres from Batu 12 to the Isthmus).
“Currently, pre-engineering works for the KUTS project are still ongoing, which include traffic surveys, soil investigation, geotechnical works and underground utility mapping. The passenger service for the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) will be introduced in stages, starting from Q4 2025,” the company said.
