New Delhi, Oct. 6 -- The Union cabinet on Tuesday approved the setting up of an Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) to draw up long-term transport plans, appraise major infrastructure projects and integrate data across roads, railways, ports, aviation, waterways and urban mobility, in a move aimed at creating a unified framework for transport planning.

"The requirement of logistics is increasing. Practically, if GDP grows by 7%, the logistics requirement grows by 10%," Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while addressing reporters after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Vaishnaw said the authority was being created to ensure infrastructure planning keeps pace with changing requirements. "Today, if we are planning,...