Cabinet Approves Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority to Drive Multimodal Planning

New Delhi:

Port Wings News Network:

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 6 October 2026 approved the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) named the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA).

The new body aims to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment across India’s transport and logistics sectors.

The decision addresses long-standing issues of fragmented planning and implementation among multiple transport-related ministries and agencies. By promoting better coordination and multimodal integration, ITLA is expected to improve the efficiency, sustainability and effectiveness of transport infrastructure development.

Key Roles of ITLA

ITLA will serve as the national apex institution for integrated transport and logistics planning, research, project appraisal, monitoring, policy support and data analytics. Its major responsibilities include:

• Preparing a comprehensive National Transport Master Plan with a horizon of 10 years or more. The plan will cover roads, railways, ports and shipping, civil aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility and logistics.
• Evaluating short-term sectoral plans (around five years) and annual plans of transport ministries to ensure alignment with the national master plan and encourage multimodal infrastructure.
• Conducting technical appraisal of Government of India infrastructure projects costing ₹500 crore or more (financial appraisal will continue under existing mechanisms).
• Monitoring implementation of transport and infrastructure projects above ₹500 crore, providing a coordinated platform for resolving issues, and carrying out post-implementation impact assessments.
• Building a National Transport Data Repository (NTDR) by integrating datasets from sources such as GSTN e-way bills, FASTag, Vahan, GPS-based systems and urban traffic management systems. The repository will support analytics, including freight flow and origin-destination studies.
• Advising on the review and updating of the National Logistics Policy (2022).
• Supporting capacity building, training and skilling in the logistics sector, while promoting research and innovation.

Officials said the establishment of ITLA will play a key role in advancing India’s Vision 2047 by strengthening multimodal connectivity, improving infrastructure efficiency, lowering logistics costs and boosting the country’s global logistics competitiveness.

The authority is also expected to build institutional capacity for research, planning, big-data integration, project monitoring and evaluation, while encouraging the adoption of international best practices.

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