New Delhi, 06 October (H.S.): Praveen Khandelwal, National General Secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk, has welcomed the Union Cabinet’s approval for the formation of the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). He described the decision as a historic step that will strengthen the vision of Viksit Bharat, PM Gati Shakti and Ease of Doing Business.

He said the initiative would also provide significant benefits to the country’s trade and industry. The move is crucial for enhancing India’s economic competitiveness, making supply chains more efficient and ensuring better coordination across the transport and logistics sector. Khandelwal said there had long been a need for greater coordination among the various departments and agencies dealing with roads, railways, ports, air transport and warehousing. The formation of ITLA, he added, would provide an effective institutional framework for addressing this need.

He said reducing logistics costs in India to levels comparable with global standards was the need of the hour. Lower logistics costs would make Indian products more competitive in both domestic and international markets, boost exports and significantly improve the operational efficiency of trade and industry. The initiative would particularly benefit micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), small businesses, start-ups, farmers and traders.

Praveen Khandelwal expressed confidence that ITLA would make the movement of goods across the country faster, more affordable and more efficient. This, he said, would reduce the cost of doing business, attract investment, create new employment opportunities and further strengthen India’s ambition to emerge as a global manufacturing and trading hub.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar