New Delhi, Oct 6 (KNS): The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA), to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment in the transportation and logistics sectors.

The move is aimed at addressing challenges arising from fragmented planning and implementation across multiple transport-related ministries and agencies and promoting greater coordination and multimodal integration.

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

It will prepare a comprehensive National Transport Master Plan with a planning horizon of 10 years or more, covering 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 of transport ministries to ensure their alignment with the National Transport Master Plan and promote multimodal infrastructure development.

The ITLA will undertake technical appraisal of Government of India infrastructure projects costing Rs 500 crore or more. Financial appraisal of such projects will continue through the existing financial appraisal mechanisms.

It will also monitor the implementation of transport and infrastructure projects above Rs 500 crore, provide a coordinated mechanism for resolving issues and undertake post-implementation impact assessments.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

As part of its mandate, ITLA will establish a National Transport Data Repository (NTDR) by integrating relevant transport and logistics datasets from multiple sources, including GSTN e-way bills, FASTag, Vahan, GPS-based systems and urban traffic management systems.

The authority will undertake data analytics, including freight flow and origin-destination analysis, for planning, monitoring and impact assessment.

ITLA will also advise and assist in the review and updation of the National Logistics Policy, 2022, besides undertaking capacity building, training and skilling initiatives in the logistics sector.

The authority will promote research and innovation in transportation and logistics and support the adoption of international best practices.

The government said establishment of ITLA will help advance India's Vision 2047 by strengthening multimodal connectivity, improving infrastructure efficiency, reducing logistics costs and enhancing the country's global logistics competitiveness.

It will also build institutional capacity in research, planning, big data integration, project monitoring and evaluation, while supporting capacity building and innovation in the transport and logistics sectors.(KNS)