A S$50 million fund has been set up to promote innovation in the transport sector.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim launched the new fund at the inaugural Land Transport Excellence Awards on Tuesday evening.

Last year, real-time bus arrival information screens were installed at Orchard Road to take the guesswork out of commuting. It is one of 50 innovative projects initiated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) with industry partners to make travelling more convenient.

Now the LTA wants to further build on such partnerships with the launch of the S$50 million Land Transport Innovation Fund.

Mr Lim said: "This fund will strengthen LTA's collaborative efforts with its local and overseas partners, tap on their innovation capabilities, and catalyse Singapore's pursuit of innovation excellence in the delivery of land transport.

"LTA aims to encourage its partners and suppliers to come forth with innovative ideas and actively participate in shaping Singapore's land transport development for the future."

Innovation was recognised at the first Land Transport Excellence Awards ceremony. Sixty projects were submitted for consideration.

Categories included "Most Eco-friendly Transport", which went to SMART Taxi for its fleet of cabs which run on compressed natural gas.

Diverting the Geylang River and soft marine clay were two problems Sembawang Engineers and Constructors faced when building the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE).

However, the company still managed to build the stretch of KPE from the Nicoll Highway to the PIE on time and without compromising on quality or safety. The challenging work earned Sembawang Engineers and Constructors the "Best Managed Project Award".

Two individuals were also recognised for their contributions to developing the transport sector.

The "Distinguished Contribution Award" was presented to Mr Fock Siew Wah, who was Chairman of the LTA from 1995 to 2002.

He encouraged LTA to use technology to improve traffic systems and customer service. Such initiatives included Electronic Road Pricing, the first congestion management tool of its kind in the world.

Dr Michael Fam, Chairman of the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation from 1983 to 1991, received the Special Contribution Award. He led the team that completed the North-South Line, ahead of schedule and well within budget. - CNA/ch