In a strategic move to strengthen India’s inland water transport and logistics infrastructure, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rhenus Logistics India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Germany-based Rhenus Group. The agreement aims to launch scheduled barge operations across key National Waterways by 2025, including NW-1 (Ganga), NW-2 (Brahmaputra), NW-16 (Barak), and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route.
The construction of this cargo network marks a milestone in India’s push for efficient, low-cost, and sustainable logistics. As part of the phased rollout, Rhenus will deploy 100 barges with pushers, starting with 20 barges and six pushers by Q3 of 2025, targeting the movement of over one million tonnes of cargo annually.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized the importance of private sector involvement in modernizing inland water transport, stating this partnership will reduce logistics costs and promote modal shift from road to waterways. The initiative supports the World Bank-backed Jal Marg Vikas Project, which has improved navigability on NW-1 through construction upgrades like dredging and terminal development.
