Germany's Rhenus Group eyes cargo ops in inland waterways

Rhenus Logistics, a leading transportation player in Europe, is looking to ramp up its India operations. It will pump about $100 million into the country's inland waterways starting next year, said Tobias Martin Bartz, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Rhenus Group.

- DHRUVAKSH SAHA

The German company, which has been operating in India in a joint venture with Mumbai-based Western Arya Group, is expected to operate 10 barges on Indian waters to ship cargo, Bartz told Business Standard.

"We are convinced that the navigation channels of national waterways 1 and 2 are of huge potential for speeding up the ambitious infrastructure that India is looking to build. These are excellent opportunities where one can use waterways. A barge can lift 800 containers or 5,000 tonnes of any bulk cargo," he said.

These barges, estimated to be worth $10 million each, will be brought in from overseas, but the firm eventually would tap into the local supply chain.