 ecosystem, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways){kind=link}
06 may: In a key move to strengthen India’s inland water transport (IWT) ecosystem, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rhenus Logistics India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Germany-based Rhenus Group. The agreement was formalized in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and senior ministry officials.
Under the MoU, Rhenus Logistics will begin phased deployment of 100 cargo barges and pusher tugs on National Waterways (NW) 1, 2, 16, and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes. The first phase, starting Q3 2025, will see 20 barges and 6 pushers introduced, aimed at transporting bulk and break-bulk cargo efficiently across North, East, and Northeast India and neighbouring countries.
The Minister termed the partnership a significant step towards building a modern, multi-modal logistics framework and encouraged private sector involvement in the IWT sector. The collaboration is expected to reduce logistics costs, improve market responsiveness, and boost infrastructure utilisation.
The MoU aligns with the goals of the Jal Marg Vikas Project, supported by the World Bank, which focuses on enhancing capacity along NW-1 (Ganga River) through dredging, terminal development, navigational aids, and lock construction.
India has witnessed a rise in operational waterways from 24 to 29, with 145.84 million tonnes of cargo handled. Initiatives like the Jalvahak Scheme, offering up to 35% operating cost incentives, are further driving cargo transport on waterways.