THE implementation of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project is progressing as planned by Sarawak Metro, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said ART’s Blue Line which covers Rembus to Riveria is expected to commence service in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025 and is expected to extend to Hikmah Exchange in Q4 of 2026.
The Red Line which is from Kuching Sentral to Pending is expected to begin in Q4 2026 while the Green Line which covers from Pending to Damai Central is expected to commence in Q4 2027.
“The Proof-of-Concept (POC) exercise of the ART vehicle is also scheduled for the first quarter of next year,” he said when delivering his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
The project, Lee said, was the backbone of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), which was implemented through open tender that reflected transparency and good governance practices.
As of second quarter of 2022, he said a total of four tenders were called and awarded, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was awarded to EMS Progress Sdn. Bhd at the value of RM3,088,332.
He said the System Package 1 was awarded to a joint-venture company, EPR Mobilus GR JV Sdn Bhd, which comprised EPR (Kuching) Sdn Bhd, Mobilus Sdn Bhd and Global Rail Sdn Bhd, at the value of RM1,425,000,000, including the supply of hydrogen-powered ART vehicles by CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Company Limited and CIMC-Hexagon Hydrogen Energy Systems Limited.
“Phase 1 covers the design, engineering, procurement, manufacture, assemble, testing and commissioning and handover of Hydrogen Vehicle (H2V), Depot Equipment and Maintenance Vehicle (DEMV), Automatic Platform Gate (APG) and Signalling and Control System (S&CS),” he added.
Meanwhile, the System Package 2 was awarded to DOM Industries (M) Sdn Bhd and China Railway Electric Engineering Group Malaysia Sdn Bhd at the value of RM448,000,000.
These systems include Telecommunication (Comms); Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA); Automatic Fare Collection (AFC); Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS); Operation Control Centre (OCC); and Information Technology System (ITS).
Lee also said the tender for the Construction of the Rembus Depot under Stage 1 has just been awarded to Hock Seng Lee Berhad, where the project will be launched soon to mark the beginning of the physical construction works of the ART project.
