A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Blue Line Project connecting Kuching Sentral to Kuching Waterfront has been proposed to improve the public transportation system in the state.
Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin said that the project was expected to be implemented next year.
“The Public Works Department (JKR) and Transport Ministry Sarawak will undertake the project,” he said when delivering his winding up speech yesterday.
He said the BRT was a dedicated lane for buses installed with the Intelligent Transportation System such as a control centre and CCTV surveillance system.
“The ministry together with JKR and Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) are also implementing the Integrated Smart Traffic Light System for Kuching City which later on can be replicated for implementation in other major towns.
“The project scope includes installation of digital countdown traffic light system,” he explained.
Lee added the state was carrying out a pilot project under the State Applied Research and Development Initiative on hydrogen gas.
“For this purpose, the ministry is working closely on the operation of hydrogen fuel cell buses with Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and on hydrogen production plant and hydrogen refuelling station with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) in collaboration with Linde EOX Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Linde Group, Germany,” he said.
He said the findings from this pilot project would help the state government to plan and decide on how to move forward on hydrogen gas.
“To date, based on the data generated, the projects are progressing well. The contaminant issue encountered earlier has been successfully resolved,” he revealed.
Furthermore, he said the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) was one of the transportation modes being considered for implementation to address traffic congestion in Kuching City.
