KUCHING: The Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) is scheduled to begin pilot operations in the fourth quarter, says Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.
He said the pilot route of KUTS' autonomous rapid transit (ART) will run from the Rembus depot in Samarahan to Northbank at Stutong here, prior to full commercial operations next year.
"This pilot phase will serve as a critical testing period to identify and address any technical, operational or service-related improvements required before full system commissioning.
"This reflects the Sarawak government’s commitment to ensuring that the system is safe, reliable and fully optimised before public rollout," he told the state assembly when winding up matters related to his ministry on Monday (May 18).
Lee said Sarawak was expected to receive four ART units and 10 hydrogen feeder buses this year to support the pilot operations.
ALSO READ: ART system set to transform Sarawak transport
He said ART units had undergone final inspections, ensuring they met the required technical and operational standards.
The hydrogen-powered ART is the backbone of KUTS, with three lines being constructed under Phase 1.
Lee said the overall physical progress of Phase 1 stood at 38.2% as of April 30, against planned progress of 44.8%.
He said the variance was due to factors such as contractor performance issues, the refinement and redesign of certain project alignments and the complexity of relocating underground utilities.
Lee also said the alignment of the ART's Red Line along Jalan Tun Razak to Pending had been redesigned to a fully elevated structure following a technical and budgetary review.
He said this would enhance operational efficiency and long-term network reliability.
In addition, he said the Green Line had been refined with the ART to run from Pending to Yayasan Sarawak and hydrogen feeder buses supporting the network from Yayasan Sarawak to Damai Central.
"The tender documentation for the Green Line package is being finalised for advertisement in the second quarter of 2026, with targeted commencement of construction in the fourth quarter and overall completion of the KUTS project by the third quarter of 2030," he said.
