In a significant step towards promoting sustainable and cost-effective cargo movement, Rhenus Group has partnered with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to develop and operate barge services across the country’s extensive network of national waterways. The partnership aims to boost inland water transport, with Rhenus set to bring in advanced push boats and 20 flat-bottom barges from Germany—each capable of carrying 400 ton and combinable for loads up to 1,200 ton per journey.
The company’s initial operations will span National Waterways 1, 2, and 16, as well as the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route. These corridors connect critical logistics hubs in North, East, and Northeast India, and extend to neighbouring countries. The vessels will be deployed for transporting both bulk and break-bulk cargo, marking a strategic push to decongest roads and railways while enhancing cross-border trade.
Rhenus is drawing on over a century of European inland navigation experience to introduce efficient and environmentally friendly logistics practices in India. As demand scales, the group plans to expand its fleet to 100 barges, targeting an annual cargo movement exceeding one million tonnes by the end of 2025.
With this initiative, India’s inland waterway network is poised for a transformation, offering a greener and more economically viable alternative for industrial cargo movement, powered by proven global expertise.