Cabinet approves new authority to enhance R&D across transportation and logistics

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved creation of an Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) to establish synergy in transport planning across the country.

The new authority would strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment across the transportation and logistics sectors.

Also read: Cabinet approves Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund for small and medium enterprises


It would work towards harmonising planning, appraisal and monitoring of transport projects.

The ITLA will bring policy research, project planning & appraisal, monitoring & evaluation, and data analytics together under one roof.

ITLA will serve as the apex body for integrated transport and logistics planning in India.

The authority would be responsible to appraise the government infrastructure projects costing Rs 500 crore or more to ensure integrated multi-modal planning. It will also monitor such transport and infrastructure projects, coordinate issue resolution and assess post-completion impact.

Its key role also includes the preparation of a long term transport plan covering roads, railways, ports, aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility and logistics.

It would also integrate GSTN e-way bill, FASTag, Vahan, GPS and urban traffic data; use freight-flow and origin-destination analytics for evidence based project planning.

The authority would advise and assist in reviewing and updating the National Logistics Policy, 2022 and support training, skilling and capacity building across logistics sector.

It will also promote research and innovation in transport and logistics sector.

Establishment of the ITLA will play a pivotal role in realizing India’s Vision 2047 by strengthening multimodal connectivity, improving infrastructure efficiency, reducing logistics costs, and enhancing India’s global logistics competitiveness, the government said in a release.