In a groundbreaking move towards sustainable cargo transport, Amazon Seller Services collaborates with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to utilize the Ganga for shipping packages. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to initiate a pilot program on the Patna-Kolkata water route.
Under the purview of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Amazon India’s MoU with IWAI seeks to enhance containerized cargo movement and establish a robust network for cargo shipment along inland waterways.
The comprehensive network spans 14,500 km, encompassing rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks, offering an environmentally friendly alternative for cargo transport. This expansion follows Amazon India’s existing dedicated air cargo network, introduced with the launch of Amazon Air in January.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, emphasized the significance of this MoU, stating, “Our focus is on increasing cargo movement through river systems, which is a more sustainable and economical mode of transport.”
The move aligns with the World Bank’s recognition of water transport as an environmentally friendly mode, consuming significantly less fuel compared to rail and road – 18.5% and 91.6% less, respectively.
To strengthen water transport in India, the government has initiated Sagarmala, a project with 113 endeavors valued at ₹7,030 crores. These projects concentrate on RoRo/RoPax and Inland Water Transport, with 15 projects totaling ₹1,100 crores already completed, and 32 projects amounting to ₹3,900 crores currently in progress.
The Ministry envisions ambitious goals, aiming to increase inland water transport volumes by over 200 million metric tons by 2030. Furthermore, they aspire to surpass 500 million metric tons by 2047, as outlined in the official release.
