Amazon India and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) have signed an agreement to allow the e-commerce company to use inland waterways for transporting customer packages. The company will work together with IWAI to build a network of inland waterways for cargo shipment. Amazon plans to launch a pilot route between Patna and Kolkata.
In a statement, Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, which runs IWAI, said that the focus of the government is on increasing cargo movement through river systems, which is a more sustainable and economical mode of transport.
Amazon India called this initiative a reinforcement of its commitment to building capacity to meet the increasing customer demand. “The aim is to also collaborate with government authorities to explore mutually beneficial projects for the e-commerce industry,” it said.
Inland waterways transport would ensure quicker, sustainable and more reliable delivery of customer packages and widen the reach of sellers, said the e-commerce company. It seeks to harness the potential of the country’s rivers, canals, and other water bodies to enhance logistics and transportation efficiency for the Indian e-commerce industry at large.
