In recognition of outstanding efforts to improve urban mobility in Asia-Pacific, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) has given out its first-ever Asia-Pacific awards.

The new awards were based on the themes of UITP's 3rd Asia-Pacific Congress held in Shanghai, China, at the end of las year: 'Public Transport in Asia Pacific: Innovative, Affordable and Sustainable'.
The prize for 'Innovations for a better environment' was awarded to the Kowloon Motor Bus Co (1933) Ltd (KMB), Hong Kong, for its advanced approach to environmental protection. KMB's efforts to decrease bus exhaust emissions - which include the installation of diesel oxidation catalysts and Continuously Regenerating Trap/soot filters - have led to tangible improvements in emission quality and fuel consumption. Euro-III engines were installed in the KMB fleet in 2001, and ultra low sulphur diesel is now in use.
Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), India, is a government-owned bus company that serves some 6 million people with a fleet of 3200 buses. Faced with the unsustainable increase in private vehicles on the roads of Bangalore, BTMC plans to introduce a Mass Rapid Transit System, based on high-capacity buses and exclusive bus lanes. This cost-effective project, now in pilot phase, was conceived of by a team of Indian and Swedish experts. This initiative won the award for 'Affordable public transport'.
Tokyu Corporation from Tokyo, Japan, won the award for 'Affordable and attractive public transport' for its entrepreneurial efforts to provide attractive, customer-orientated rail transport services. Tokyu believes that in order to maintain and increase passenger numbers it is necessary to enhance the attractiveness of stations and their surrounding areas. For instance, it has planted flowers along the tracks of the Setagaya line, and holds regular "flowering" events in the community. Tokyu's initiatives have also contributed to the regeneration and dynamism of built-up areas along rail lines by stimulating the development of commerce.
Shanghai Urban Transport Bureau and Shanghai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd jointly received the award for 'Sustainable transport' for their contribution to the sustainable development of Shanghai, a mega-city with a population of over 16 million. Shanghai's municipal government considers public transport as crucial to the social and economic development of the city, with rail forming the backbone of the city's sustainable mobility plan. With 65 km of rail currently in operation, the rail network is expected to reach over 200 km by 2005, making the speed of its development unprecedented, not only in Asia-Pacific, but throughout the world.
Founded in 1885, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international organisation for public transport authorities, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport industry. It is a platform for worldwide co-operation and the sharing of know-how between its 2000 members from some 80 countries.