(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Oct 14 (KNN) India is planning to establish a federal Transport Planning Authority to coordinate infrastructure projects across aviation, highways, shipping, railways, and urban planning.

The move aims to reduce wasteful spending, improve project efficiency, and ensure better alignment between various transport systems, according to people familiar with the matter.

The new body, which will work closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, is expected to receive Cabinet approval within three to six months.

It will act as a central agency to synchronize efforts across ministries and ensure that projects are viable, timely, and connected.

The initiative draws inspiration from international models such as London's Transport for London and Seoul's Metropolitan Transport Commission, which have successfully integrated urban transport planning.

India, which is investing tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure as part of its vision to become a developed nation by 2047, has often faced issues of inefficiency and underused assets. Many airports, metro systems, and transport hubs operate below capacity due to uncoordinated planning.

For instance, 12 of India's 140 airports recorded no passengers between December and March, and metro networks in cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru function at only a fraction of their intended capacity.

The PM Gati Shakti initiative, launched in 2021 to improve inter-departmental coordination, covered 58 departments and 36 states but was limited mainly to project approvals and did not fully resolve integration challenges.

The upcoming Transport Planning Authority aims to go further by prioritizing feasible projects, accelerating clearances, and ensuring that transport infrastructure aligns with actual demand.

This strategic reform is expected to make India's infrastructure development more efficient, connected, and future-ready.

(KNN Bureau)

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