The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport was established in January 2001, following the reorganization of the central government ministries and agencies, and incorporates four former ministries and agencies: the Hokkaido Development Agency, established in 1950 as an administrative agency in charge of promoting the development of Hokkaido; the National Land Agency, established in 1974 as an administrative agency in charge of comprehensive promotion and coordination of national land-related administration; the Ministry of Transport, established in 1949 as an administrative agency in charge of land, marine and air transport administration; and the Ministry of Construction, established in 1948 as an administrative agency in charge of improvement of social capital, such as housing, residential sites, rivers and roads.