Yamuna cruise arrives, set for launch this month amid tourism push
The much-awaited Yamuna cruise has arrived in the national Capital from Mumbai, with the Delhi Government targeting its launch this month as part of efforts to boost riverfront tourism and recreation.
Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra on Friday said the cruise will have seating for 40 passengers and will provide onboard facilities such as music, entertainment and food services.
“The cruise has arrived in Delhi, and most of the work is complete. A few remaining technical tasks are underway and it will be launched this month,” Mishra told.
He said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is expected to inaugurate the service, which will offer hour-long round trips on the Yamuna.
Mishra said the project is part of a broader plan to develop a recreation and leisure hub along the river. “This will not be limited to a cruise service. Water sports, recreational activities and a full-fledged leisure zone are also being planned at the cruise terminal. The aim is to provide an international-style experience at affordable prices for Delhi residents,” he said.
Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra had earlier visited Mumbai to inspect the cruise, where it was under construction. “Sometime in February, it will be launched for the people of Delhi by CM Rekha Gupta,” Mishra had said.
The Minister announced that Delhi residents will soon be able to enjoy a cruise experience similar to Goa’s. The project will feature a starting point equipped with water sports and a range of recreational activities.
“A jetty has been prepared in Sonia Vihar, and its starting point will be in upstream Wazirabad. One round will last one hour, and 40 people can be accommodated at once. The starting point of this cruise will be a hub of water sports and recreational activities. We will give a Goa-like cruise experience in Delhi,” he had added.
In the March last year, the Delhi Government and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to host eco-friendly river cruises on a 4-kilometre stretch between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur (Shani Mandir).
Delhi Government officials had said that the initiative is aimed to transform the Sonia Vihar – Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi into a hub for eco-friendly cruise operations.
Once operational, the project will see the introduction of hybrid boats designed to carry 20-30 passengers at a time. These vessels will be equipped with bio-toilets, public announcement systems, and life jackets to ensure both safety and convenience. Additionally, two high-density polyethylene (HDPE) jetties will be installed to facilitate smooth ferry operations. The initiative is expected to encourage short-distance water travel and recreational activities, making the river more accessible for both tourists and locals.
Days after formation, the Delhi Government had announced plans to boost tourism and promote sustainable water transport by introducing a ferry and cruise service along a 7-8 km stretch of the Yamuna.
The stretch of the Yamuna from Jagatpur, Delhi to Sangam in Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) has been declared as NW-110 with the enactment of the Inland Waterways Act in March, 2016. A draft of the MoU was sent to the departments concerned, including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB), in September 2024.
The plan is to use non-polluting solar or electric hybrid cruise boats with provisions of seating capacity of 20-30 people and a maximum draft requirement of 1.2m with a speed of 5-7 knots. It also involved navigation aids for safe vessel movements and shore-charging stations for cruise boats. The idea to operate the service on a section of the Yamuna was first floated in 2016 when the IWAI moved the National Green Tribunal for its nod.
