KUCHING: Minister for Transport, Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, has urged contractors involved in the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project to prioritise public safety and minimise disruptions to road users and surrounding communities as construction progresses.
He urged contractors to remain mindful of how their construction work affects nearby residents and road users.
“I know that the contractors face many challenges during this construction, but they must always be mindful of how their activities impact road users and nearby communities,” he said.
“As they carry out their work, they must enhance their traffic management and exercise extra caution when relocating utilities along the KUTS alignment.”
Lee acknowledged that uncharted utilities remain a major challenge and emphasised the need for greater care to prevent service disruptions.
“As we strive to transform our public transport system for the future of Kuching, it is vital for all contractors to reduce public inconvenience during their construction works,” he added.
He made these remarks during a working visit to the ART Interchange Station (SR10) construction site at Simpang Tiga here, one of the key stations under the KUTS Red Line package.
He was received by representatives from Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd, led by CEO Ts Mazli Mustaffa, along with the joint venture contractor SJCJV comprising Sri Datai Construction (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, JT JV Builders Sdn Bhd, and CHEC Construction (M) Sdn Bhd.
During the visit, Lee was briefed on the progress of the Red Line and the interchange station, which will serve as a major connection point between KUTS lines in the future.
Mazli reaffirmed the minister’s call, saying the company continues to work closely with contractors to strengthen traffic management and reduce public inconvenience.
“We continue to strengthen our procedures to ensure that our traffic management and utilities relocation works keep improving.
“We also work closely with relevant agencies and stakeholders to make sure our construction activities do not cause excessive disruption to the local communities.”
The KUTS project, spearheaded by Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, aims to modernise urban mobility and enhance public transport connectivity across Greater Kuching by implementing the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) hydrogen-powered system.
