Govt of India approves Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority to drive Multimodal Planning

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to strengthen integrated planning, research, project appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment across India’s transportation and logistics sectors.

The new authority is aimed at addressing long-standing challenges arising from fragmented planning and implementation across multiple transport ministries and agencies. By bringing greater coordination to different modes of transport, ITLA is expected to support more efficient, sustainable and integrated development of India's transport infrastructure.

ITLA to Become Apex Institution for Transport Planning

ITLA will function as a national apex institution for integrated transport and logistics planning, research, project appraisal, monitoring, policy support and data analytics.

One of its key responsibilities will be preparation of a National Transport Master Plan with a planning horizon of 10 years or more. The plan will cover major transport sectors including roads, railways, ports and shipping, civil aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility and logistics.

The authority will also evaluate short-term sectoral plans of around five years and annual plans prepared by transport ministries to ensure that they remain aligned with the National Transport Master Plan and support multimodal infrastructure development.

Technical Appraisal of Projects Above ₹500 Crore

ITLA will undertake technical appraisal of Government of India infrastructure projects costing ₹500 crore or more. Financial appraisal, however, will continue to be undertaken through the existing financial appraisal mechanisms.

The authority will also monitor implementation of transport and infrastructure projects above the ₹500 crore threshold and provide a coordinated mechanism for addressing implementation-related issues.

Following project completion, ITLA will undertake post-implementation impact assessments to evaluate project outcomes and their effectiveness.

National Transport Data Repository

A major component of ITLA's mandate will be the creation of a National Transport Data Repository (NTDR).

The repository will integrate relevant transport and logistics datasets from multiple sources, including GSTN e-way bill data, FASTag, Vahan, GPS-based systems and urban traffic management systems, along with other relevant databases.

ITLA will use the integrated data for advanced analytics, including freight-flow and origin-destination (O-D) analysis, to support transport planning, project monitoring and impact assessment.

The unified data framework is expected to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and provide policymakers with a more comprehensive understanding of passenger and freight movement across the country.

Support for Logistics Policy, Research and Skills

ITLA will also advise and assist in the review and updating of the National Logistics Policy, 2022. Its responsibilities will extend to capacity building, training and skilling in the logistics sector.

The authority will further promote research and innovation in transport and logistics, while supporting the adoption of international best practices and strengthening institutional capabilities.

Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO, Urban Infra Group, said, “The establishment of ITLA can provide an important institutional framework for bringing India's different transport modes into a more coordinated planning system. Integrating infrastructure planning with data, project appraisal and post-implementation assessment will be critical as India develops large-scale multimodal transport networks.”

Supporting India’s Vision 2047

According to the government, the establishment of ITLA will play a pivotal role in advancing India's Vision 2047 by strengthening multimodal connectivity, improving infrastructure efficiency, reducing logistics costs and enhancing the country's global logistics competitiveness.

The authority is also expected to build institutional capacity in areas such as research, long-term planning, big-data integration, project monitoring and evaluation, while supporting skills development and the adoption of international practices.

With transport infrastructure increasingly spanning multiple modes and agencies, the creation of ITLA marks a significant institutional move towards integrated transport and logistics planning in India. Its proposed National Transport Master Plan and unified data repository could provide a common framework for coordinating investments across road, rail, ports, waterways, aviation, urban mobility and logistics infrastructure.