The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of a new apex body to bring all transport and logistics planning in India under one roof. The Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority, cleared by the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, will be set up in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and function as the national hub for planning, project appraisal, monitoring and data analytics across every mode of transport.
What the authority will do
The authority will draw up a National Transport Master Plan with a planning horizon of ten years or more, covering roads, railways, ports and shipping, civil aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility and logistics. It will also vet shorter five-year sectoral plans and annual plans of transport ministries to keep them aligned with the long-term master plan.
One of its key powers will be the technical appraisal of government infrastructure projects costing Rs 500 crore or more. It will monitor such projects during implementation and carry out post-completion impact assessments to check whether investments delivered the intended benefits.
Data-driven planning push
A National Transport Data Repository will merge datasets such as GSTN e-way bills, FASTag, Vahan, GPS-based systems and urban traffic data to support freight-flow and origin-destination analysis for evidence-based planning.
Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said logistics demand is outpacing the economy: "The requirement of logistics is increasing. Practically, if GDP grows by 7%, the logistics requirement grows by 10%." He said master plans of 10, 12 and even 30 years would be prepared so infrastructure decisions factor in future needs rather than just present gaps.
Building on GatiShakti
The move builds on the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan launched in 2021, which brought together 58 ministries and departments using more than 3,202 data layers as of June 2026, and the National Logistics Policy of 2022. The authority will also help review and update that policy, and take up research into new, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly modes of transportation.
The government expects the institution to cut logistics costs, strengthen multimodal connectivity and improve India's global logistics competitiveness.
Sources: Hindustan Times | The Indian Express
What the authority will do
The authority will draw up a National Transport Master Plan with a planning horizon of ten years or more, covering roads, railways, ports and shipping, civil aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility and logistics. It will also vet shorter five-year sectoral plans and annual plans of transport ministries to keep them aligned with the long-term master plan.
One of its key powers will be the technical appraisal of government infrastructure projects costing Rs 500 crore or more. It will monitor such projects during implementation and carry out post-completion impact assessments to check whether investments delivered the intended benefits.
Data-driven planning push
A National Transport Data Repository will merge datasets such as GSTN e-way bills, FASTag, Vahan, GPS-based systems and urban traffic data to support freight-flow and origin-destination analysis for evidence-based planning.
Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said logistics demand is outpacing the economy: "The requirement of logistics is increasing. Practically, if GDP grows by 7%, the logistics requirement grows by 10%." He said master plans of 10, 12 and even 30 years would be prepared so infrastructure decisions factor in future needs rather than just present gaps.
Building on GatiShakti
The move builds on the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan launched in 2021, which brought together 58 ministries and departments using more than 3,202 data layers as of June 2026, and the National Logistics Policy of 2022. The authority will also help review and update that policy, and take up research into new, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly modes of transportation.
The government expects the institution to cut logistics costs, strengthen multimodal connectivity and improve India's global logistics competitiveness.
Sources: Hindustan Times | The Indian Express
