MoU Signed to Boost Cargo Transport via Inland Waterways

Swift Summary

• Teh Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed an MoU with Rhenus Logistics India Private Limited on May 6, 2025.
• Rhenus will introduce 100 barges in phases across India’s national waterways, starting with 20 barges and six pushers aimed at moving over one million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of 2025.
• Initial operations will focus on key rivers such as the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Barak, and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route, targeting bulk and break bulk cargo movement in north, east, and northeast India. Gradual expansion to other waterways is planned.
• The collaboration will leverage Rhenus’s European inland navigation expertise and global fleet of over 1,100 barges to apply best practices suited for low draft conditions in indian waterways.
• India has expanded operational national waterways from three (2014-15) to 24 (2023-24), aiming for a total of 29 by 2024-25. Cargo movement increased from 30 MMTPA (2014-15) to a record high of around 133 MMTPA in recent years with cumulative movement surpassing over 779 MMT as the last decade across its navigable stretch covering nearly 14,500 km.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The MoU between IWAI and Rhenus Logistics marks a notable step toward bolstering India’s multimodal logistics network via inland water transport-a mode regarded for its cost-efficiency and environmental benefits compared to road or rail logistics. With targeted cargo movements exceeding one million tonnes annually by year-end alone through scalable barge infrastructure adapted globally yet regionally localized routes could unlock both-green sustainability PLUS; ripple impacts thought= regionalized port+ villages cluster-scale Massive economic flows also furthering connectivity underserved early<<<< regions crucial.Inner Mini++++