India’s inland waterways cargo movement is set for major expansion with a new MoU signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Rhenus Logistics India on May 6, 2025. This agreement aims to deploy 100 barges in phases, targeting over one million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of the year. The first phase will see the launch of 20 barges and six pushers operating on the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Barak rivers, and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route—strengthening connectivity across northern, eastern, and northeastern India.
This initiative supports India’s larger vision for multimodal logistics integration. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways emphasized the environmental and cost benefits of inland water transport, describing it as a greener and more efficient alternative. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal noted the potential to revolutionize cargo logistics in India.
Rhenus Logistics, with a global fleet of over 1,100 barges, will bring its expertise in low-draft, inland navigation to Indian operations. The fleet will handle both bulk and break bulk cargo.
India’s national waterways network has grown from just three in 2014-15 to 24 in 2023-24, with cargo volumes increasing from 30 MMTPA to 133 MMTPA. The government aims to reach 29 waterways by 2024-25.
