Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin stated that Phase One of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) will cover a total length of 69.9km and is estimated to cost about RM80mil per kilometre. The project cost includes land acquisition, autonomous rapid transit (ART) hydrogen vehicles, feeder buses, infrastructure works and depots.
Comparatively, Lee mentioned that the LRT3 project in Kuala Lumpur, with a length of 37.6km, had a higher cost of about RM540mil per kilometre. According to him, this indicates that the ART’s cost per kilometre is approximately one-sixth of the LRT3 project that commenced in 2017. He made these remarks during the winding up of matters related to his ministry at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Monday (Nov 27).
Violet Yong (DAP-Pending) had inquired about the cost of the ART project when debating the 2024 state budget last week. Lee responded by stating that Phase One of the KUTS project will involve three ART lines totaling 69.9km, with 31 stations and one interchange station.
Lee also mentioned that 80% of the dedicated lanes for the ART would be at road level and 20% elevated. The works included bridges, stations, utility relocations, road widening, and land acquisition. Additionally, the project components comprised infrastructure works for two depots at Rembus and Sungai Batu, system works including 38 ART hydrogen vehicles, and a feeder bus depot at Rembus.
He further stated that as of October 2023, the overall actual progress of KUTS Phase One stands at 14.43%. The capital expenditure has reached RM403.43mil, reflecting the financial commitment to advancing this transformative project.
