KUCHING: Pansar Bhd
’s wholly-owned subsidiary Perbena Emas Sdn Bhd (PESB) and its joint-venture (JV) partner China Road & Bridge Corp (CRBC) have been awarded a RM804.7mil contract for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS).
The contract is for the construction and completion of infrastructure works for the Blue Line – Package 2, stretching from Stutong near to the Kuching International Airport to Hikmah Exchange in the city centre.
The contract was awarded by Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd, which received a total of 13 tenders for the package. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corp (SEDC), Sarawak Metro is tasked by the Sarawak government to modernise public transport through the KUTS project.
Sarawak Metro chief executive officer Mazli Mustaffa handed over the letter of award last Friday.
The scope of work for the contract include architectural works, civil and structures, mechanical and electrical works, external and landscape works for the station as well as the infrastructure, including road works, viaducts, crossing, road widening, utilities relocation and utilities protection, Pansar said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia. The contract is effective from Sept 3, 2024.
Pansar said PESB-CRBC will incorporate a JV company to undertake the project.
Sarawak Metro also handed out a second contract – Bus Integrated System (BIS) – worth RM55.5mil to a JV company consisting of Shorefield Sdn Bhd, China Huaxin Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Kentkart International LLP.
Sarawak Metro received five tender submissions for the BIS contract, which is for the design, engineering, procurement, manufacture, supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and handover of the BIS for the feeder bus service.
The hydrogen-powered feeder buses will provide the first and last-mile connectivity, supporting the Autonomous Raid Transit (ART) network for the KUTS project.
The JV company of BIS will also take part in Sarawak Metro’s socio-economic enhancement development programme, which among others, aims to develop the local human capital and local supply chain for the modern public transport industry.
The KUTS project is being developed in phases, and Phase 1 includes the development of three lines. The Blue Line is from Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Hikmah Exchange, the Red Line from Kuching Sentral to Pending, and the Green Line from Pending to Damai in the Santubong peninsula.
Construction of the first package of the Blue Line is expected to complete by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Package 1 from Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Stutong was awarded to a JV consisting of Ibraco Bhd, China Railway Engineering Corp (M) Sdn Bhd and Nanyang Tunnel Engineering Sdn Bhd for a contract value of RM568.6mil in November 2023. The package involves the construction of a 15-km ART alignment.
All the three lines (Blue, Red and Green) are expected to be fully completed by the end of 2027.
The backbone of the KUTS project, according to Sarawak Metro, is the introduction of the zero-emission ART hydrogen vehicles. The ART vehicles will be operated on dedicated lanes, meaning they will not share the lane with other road users.
The dedicated lanes will be trackless and will mostly be at-grade (road level), while certain sections of the alignment will be elevated. “We are excited to introduce a modern, reliable and efficient public transport system that will be fully completed by 2027,” said Mazli.
