Amazon India has entered into an agreement with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to enhance cargo movement along the Ganga, marking a significant expansion of its supply chain. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways aims to facilitate containerized cargo movement through a network on inland waterways, covering a vast expanse of 14,500 km, including rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks. The pilot program is set to commence on the Patna-Kolkata water route.
Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, emphasized the importance of harnessing India’s inland water transport potential. The initiative aligns with the government’s focus on increasing cargo movement through river systems, recognized as a more sustainable and economical mode of transport. Amazon India’s move to include navigable inland waterways in its supply chain is in addition to its dedicated air cargo network launched earlier this year.
Water transport is acknowledged as one of the most environmentally friendly modes, consuming significantly less fuel compared to rail and road, according to a World Bank Report. The government’s Sagarmala initiative, featuring 113 projects valued at ₹7,030 crore, is dedicated to bolstering water transport in India, with completed and ongoing projects contributing to this goal. The Ministry aims to surpass 200 MMT of inland water transport volumes by 2030 and set a target of exceeding 500 MMT by 2047.
