KUCHING: The overall physical progress of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) Phase 1 Project has reached approximately 38.2 per cent as of 30 April 2026, compared to the original target of 44.8 per cent.
Sarawak Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the variance in progress was due to several interrelated factors, including contractor performance issues, project enhancements and route redesigns, particularly involving the Red Line.
According to him, the scale and complexity of underground utility relocation works have also become among the key challenges affecting the current progress of the high-impact public transportation project.
“Following technical and budget reviews, the Red Line alignment along Jalan Tun Razak to Pending has been redesigned into a fully elevated structure to improve long-term operational efficiency and network reliability,” he said.
He said this during his ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Monday.
He added that the scope of the Green Line has also been refined, with the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) route covering the alignment from Pending to Yayasan Sarawak, while hydrogen feeder buses will support the KUTS network from Yayasan Sarawak to Damai Central.
In a related development, Dato Sri Lee disclosed that the tender documentation for the Green Line package is currently being finalised before its launch in the second quarter of this year.
Construction for the package is targeted to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026, while the entire KUTS Project is expected to be fully completed by the third quarter of 2030.
Meanwhile, the KUTS pilot operation is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, involving the route from the Rembus Depot, Samarahan to Northbank, Stutong.
This phase will allow the public to experience using the ART system before full commercial operations are expected to begin in 2027.
At the same time, Sarawak is also expected to receive four ART units and 10 hydrogen feeder buses this year to support pilot operations of the transportation system. -UKASnews
