A high-level team led by Union Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Delhi ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma and Kapil Mishra on Tuesday reviewed preparations for the upcoming Yamuna cruise service at Sonia Vihar.
The joint inspection signals a moment of alignment between the Centre, the L-G’s office and the Delhi Government on a major infrastructure project aimed at reshaping water transport and tourism in the Capital.
The officials examined key components of the project. These included jetty construction, safety systems, passenger facilities and the development of the cruise route. Senior officers briefed the leaders on the pace of work. They said the project was moving ahead on schedule with close coordination among all agencies.
The Yamuna cruise service is being pitched as a major shift in how Delhi uses its river. Officials said the service will add a new transport corridor, expand tourism and support the larger effort to revive the Yamuna. They said the project will also open new jobs and give local businesses a boost. The Centre believes the river can become a cultural and economic driver for the city once the service begins.
The one-hour cruise will operate between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, covering a five-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna where water quality and navigability have reportedly improved due to recent rejuvenation efforts. It will offer passengers panoramic views of the Yamuna’s ghats and the natural landscape along the riverbanks, said officials who asked not to be identified.
Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said the launch of Delhi’s first cruise service will mark a historic turn in the city’s tourism sector. He said the project will place Delhi on the global tourism map. He added that the cruise service will restore the cultural character of the Yamuna, which has faded with time. Union minister Sonowal said the project is an important part of a national plan to expand inland waterways. He said the Yamuna cruise will show how large cities can adopt water-based mobility. L.G. Saxena added that the project will help shift public attention to the river’s ecological health.
The cruise service between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur is part of a broader plan to modernise Delhi’s water transport. Construction of the jetty and passenger areas has picked up pace in recent months. Engineers working on the project said the safety systems will be finalised before the test runs begin. They said the focus is on stable navigation, crowd management and emergency response. Route planning is also in its final phase, with surveys completed along the stretch.
Officials said the water transport project is meant to do more than attract tourists. It is also designed to raise awareness about the river. The government wants people to engage with the Yamuna in a way that encourages conservation. The project aims to create an environmentally sensitive travel option that reduces pressure on the road network.
The initiative is also expected to widen employment opportunities. Service operators, maintenance staff, hospitality workers and small businesses in the riverfront belt are likely to benefit. Officials said tourism-driven economic activity could rise once the cruise begins regular operations.
The Centre and the Delhi government recently signed an MoU for the project. The Inland Waterways Authority of India and the Government of NCT of Delhi will jointly steer the service. Officials described the MoU as a landmark agreement. They said it will lay the foundation for the long-term development of river-based tourism between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur.