JV company clinches contract for Rembus Depot construction

KUCHING: Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd has awarded the contract for the Rembus Depot construction to a joint venture company, comprising Azam Sehasrat Sdn Bhd, IJM Construction Sdn Bhd and Unique Deco Sdn Bhd.

The joint venture company’s winning bid was among the 12 submissions received at the close of the tender exercise in July this year.

“The contract, which is valued at RM260 million, is for the construction and completion of the Rembus Depot and other associated works that include construction of all depot buildings and associated structures, stabling yard, detention pond, access road as well as civil works.  

“The joint venture company is expected to commence work next month and scheduled to complete by December 2025,” Sarawak Metro said in a press release.

Sarawak metro added that the construction of the Rembus Depot is part of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project, which Sarawak Metro, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), has been entrusted to develop, operate, and maintain.

“The KUTS project, which is under the purview of the Ministry of Transport Sarawak, is being developed in phases with Phase 1 consisting of the Blue Line, the Red Line and the Green Line.

“The Blue Line will be from Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Hikmah Exchange in the city centre; the Red Line, from Kuching Sentral to Pending; and the Green Line, from Pending to Damai,” it added.

Covering a total distance of 70 kilometres, phase one of the KUTS project is scheduled to begin passenger service in stages; starting from the fourth quarter of 2025 and expected to complete by end of 2027.

The backbone of the KUTS project is the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) and this will be supported by the feeder bus network.  

Both vehicles will be powered by green hydrogen, in support of Sarawak’s decarbonisation efforts and in line with Sarawak’s agenda to advance the hydrogen economy.