The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rhenus Logistics India Private Limited to expand scheduled barge operations across India's inland waterways. The agreement marks a significant step under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) to promote cost-effective and environment-friendly multimodal logistics.

In the first phase of the project, twenty barges and six pusher vessels will be deployed on National Waterways 1, 2, and 16, along with the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route. The goal is to transport over one million tonnes of cargo by the end of 2025. The total fleet will scale to one hundred barges, integrating both bulk and break-bulk cargo transport suited for low-draft conditions.

The partnership draws on Rhenus’ global expertise and over 1,100 operating barges worldwide. It supports the Jal Marg Vikas Project, which includes dredging, terminal development, community jetties, and navigational aids across key routes to boost inland transport efficiency.

The collaboration is aligned with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of developing sustainable inland transport infrastructure. Cargo movement on national waterways has grown from 30 to 145.84 million tonnes since 2014–15, and the number of operational waterways has increased from three to twenty-nine.

Source:Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India