On May 6, 2025, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rhenus Group to start barge operations in India. As part of the agreement, Rhenus Logistics India Private Limited will introduce 100 barges in a phased manner across key national waterways (NWs) in India. In the first phase, 20 barges and 6 pushers will be deployed, targeting the movement of more than 1 million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of 2025.
Initially, the Rhenus Group will operate on NW 1 (Ganga), NW 2 (Brahmaputra), and NW 16 (Barak), and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route. These operations will facilitate the movement of bulk and break-bulk cargo across north, east, and northeast India, with gradual expansion to other NWs.