Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 7: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved a proposal to establish an Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) to coordinate and strengthen the country’s transport and logistics infrastructure.

The ITLA will prepare a long-term transport plan covering roads, railways, ports and shipping, civil aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility and logistics.

The authority will also undertake technical appraisal of government infrastructure projects costing Rs 500 crore or more. Financial appraisal of the projects will continue through the existing mechanisms.

It will monitor the implementation of transport and infrastructure projects above Rs 500 crore and provide a coordinated mechanism for resolving issues. The authority will also conduct post-implementation impact assessments of such projects.

In another key decision, the Cabinet approved a commitment of Rs 10,000 crore to establish an SME Growth Fund for direct equity investments in small and medium enterprises.

The fund aims to provide growth-oriented capital to Indian SMEs and help create future champions across manufacturing, services, technology, innovation-driven sectors and strategic value chains.

The SME Growth Fund was announced in the Union Budget 2026-27. The government said the initiative will strengthen India’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, deepen the domestic capital market for growth-stage enterprises and support the emergence of Indian companies capable of competing globally.