In a major development for India’s inland waterways sector, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)—the nodal agency under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW)—has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global logistics leader Rhenus Group. This partnership aims to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and reach of inland water transport (IWT) in India.
The agreement will enable Rhenus Logistics India to launch scheduled barge operations across key National Waterways (NWs). As part of the phased rollout, Rhenus will deploy 100 barges, beginning with 20 barges and 6 pushers, to support the movement of over one million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of 2025.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who presided over the event, emphasized the government’s commitment to creating a green, cost-effective, and integrated transport system, noting that inland waterways will be pivotal to achieving the goals of the Maritime India Vision 2030. “With this MoU, we are tapping into global expertise to modernize and scale our rich network of waterways, transforming them into a powerful engine for sustainable economic growth,” he stated.
Operations will initially span National Waterways 1 (Ganga), 2 (Brahmaputra), and 16 (Barak), as well as the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route, covering key logistics corridors in North, East, and Northeast India. Expansion to other NWs will follow in subsequent phases.
The collaboration leverages Rhenus’ global inland navigation experience, including a fleet of over 1,100 barges, to bring international best practices to India’s IWT landscape. Tailored barge-pusher combinations will be deployed to navigate India’s low-draft waterways efficiently, carrying both bulk and break-bulk cargo.
This partnership is also a reflection of the growing success of the Jal Marg Vikas Project, which focuses on enhancing the capacity of National Waterways through dredging, terminal development, navigational aids, and community infrastructure.
The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials, including TK Ramachandran, Secretary, MoPSW, and Vijay Kumar, Chairman, IWAI. The Rhenus delegation was led by Vivek Arya, CEO of Rhenus Logistics India.
India’s inland water transport sector has seen transformative growth under MoPSW, with the number of operational NWs rising from 3 in 2014-15 to 29 in 2024-25. Cargo volume has increased nearly fivefold—from 30 MMTPA to 145.84 MMTPA, with over 779 MMT moved cumulatively in the past decade. With 14,500 km of navigable waterways across 111 declared NWs, the sector is emerging as a cornerstone of India’s multimodal logistics ecosystem.
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