Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate Delhi’s first recreational Yamuna cruise service on Tuesday. Passengers will enjoy a boat ride along the designated route and return to their starting point at the end of the journey. The inauguration ceremony will witness the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, several Delhi cabinet ministers and senior officials. Earlier, the chief minister had announced that the Yamuna ferry service will open before the Chhath festival, with the government aiming to develop it as a family picnic destination. Chhath Puja will be celebrated across the country between November 13-16.
According to an official statement, the river Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. “The development of the recreational river cruise service along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna River in Delhi marks an important step towards harnessing the potential of this National Waterway for recreational navigation and river-based tourism,” it said. Each ride will accommodate up to 30 passengers.
Ahead of the launch, trial runs of the cruise vessel were successfully conducted last month in the presence of senior officials from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Delhi government.
The statement said that, spearheaded by IWAI, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the initiative reflects the Authority’s commitment to promoting sustainable inland water transport and developing waterways as an integral component of urban mobility and tourism infrastructure.
The initiative is expected to offer Delhi residents and tourists a unique experience while fostering greater public engagement with the Yamuna, it added. The statement said the use of electric-powered cruise vessels will also demonstrate the potential of inland waterways in promoting clean and sustainable mobility while adding a new recreational attraction to the National Capital Region.
The Recreational Yamuna River Cruise Service is being developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), in collaboration with Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Government of Delhi.
The ferry service named “Namo Yamuna River Safari” was earlier supposed to be launched on February 20 to coincide with the completion of one year of BJP Govt in power.
It is expected to boost local economic activity and create new employment opportunities. Facilities along the river are being developed to turn the area into an attractive tourism and recreation destination for Delhi residents. The project includes food kiosks, a restaurant, a kids’ zone and other essential public amenities for visitors.
Under the proposed arrangements, the operator will provide a comfortable service and ensure the safety of passengers, crew members, and other river users.