ANN/THE STAR – Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd has accelerated the award of contracts for the construction of Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project, handing out a third contract worth MYR943 million to another Malaysia-China joint venture (JV) company.
The JV company comprises Sri Datai Construction (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, JT JV Builders Sdn Bhd and CHEC Construction (M) Sdn Bhd.
The contract it secured is to build the infrastructure for the Red Line, one of the three transit lines under KUTS project.
Sarawak Metro received six bids for this work package at the close of the tender exercise on October 25, 2023.
CHEC Construction is a subsidiary of China Communications and Construction Co Ltd.
The Red Line’s infrastructure works covers 12.3 kilometres (km) and stretches from Kuching Sentral to Pending in the city.
“Apart from building the at-grade and elevated dedicated lane for the autonomous rapid transit (ART), the contract is also for road widening works as well as other infrastructure works.
“The JV company is expected to commence work next month and is scheduled to complete by December 2026,” said Sarawak Metro.
Sarawak Metro is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corp, which is tasked by the Sarawak government to develop, operate and maintain KUTS.
The project, estimated to cost some MYR6 billion, is being developed with Phase 1 consisting the Blue Line, Red Line and Green Line.
The Blue Line covers a distance of 27.6km from Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Hikmah Exchange in Kuching City while the Green Line (30km) connects Pending and Damai in the Santubong peninsula, a popular tourist spot.
Ibraco Bhd unit, Ibraco Construction Sdn Bhd, and its JV partners China Railway Engineering Corp (M) Sdn Bhd and Nanyang Tunnel Engineering Sdn Bhd won the construction and completion of the infrastructure works for the Blue Line for a contract value of MYR568.6 million in November.
The Blue Lane Package 1 is expected to be completed by December 31, 2025 (stage one) and June 30, 2026 (stage 1A).
Two weeks ago, another JV company formed by IJM Construction Sdn Bhd, Azam Sehasrat Sdn Bhd and Unique Deco Sdn Bhd was awarded a MYR260 million contract.
The contract is for the construction and completion of the Rembus ART depot and other structures, stabling yard, detention pond, access road as well as civil works.
