India's New Transport Authority Aims for Coordinated Infrastructure Planning
The Union Cabinet approved the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) on October 6 to enhance coordination in transport infrastructure planning across sectors. ITLA is tasked with creating a National Transport Master Plan with a minimum 10-year horizon and will assess central projects costing ₹500 crore or more. Experts highlight the need for the authority to possess veto powers to effectively influence project decisions and ensure comprehensive planning. The authority's success will also depend on the establishment of a National Transport Data Repository to facilitate data-driven decision-making. Current planning practices often lead to siloed projects that do not adequately connect transport modes, resulting in inefficiencies. A shift towards a service-oriented approach in transport investment is also advocated, focusing on improving public transport services rather than solely expanding infrastructure.
Published 9 hours ago • 13 Oct 2026, 09:08 PM IST