Delhi launches first Yamuna recreational cruise service with electric vessel
The 30-seater electric cruise will operate along the Sonia Vihar–Jagatpur stretch, with a proposed 6-km round trip and additional attractions including a musical fountain, food court and adventure facilities.
Delhi on Tuesday launched its first recreational cruise service on the Yamuna, with Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurating the project at Sonia Vihar in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
NEW DELHI: Delhi on Tuesday launched its first recreational cruise service on the Yamuna, with Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurating the project at Sonia Vihar in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Developed along the Sonia Vihar–Jagatpur stretch, the service features a 30-seater electric vessel offering visitors a scenic experience over an approximately 6-km round-trip route. The initiative aims to develop river-based tourism in the national capital while promoting electric-powered inland water transport.
Sonowal said the project was part of the government’s efforts to harness the potential of inland waterways for tourism, economic activity and sustainable mobility. He described the launch as a step towards reconnecting people with rivers and expanding recreational opportunities along the Yamuna.
Rekha Gupta said the cruise service would add a new dimension to Delhi’s tourism landscape and create opportunities for local economic activity. She said the government was committed to developing the riverfront as a public destination with improved amenities and experiences reflecting the city’s heritage.
Light and sound show among attractions
The cruise project is envisaged as a wider eco-tourism destination, with attractions extending beyond the boat service.
A musical fountain featuring a coordinated light and sound show will showcase the Yamuna’s history and spiritual significance, including its associations with Surya Dev, Yama and Lord Krishna’s Kaliya Daman episode.
The visitor facilities include a food court, shopping area, children’s play zone and adventure activities such as skating and rock climbing. The project also provides floating jetties, ticket counters, online booking facilities, restrooms, waiting areas and illuminated approach pathways.
Yamuna designated as National Waterway-110
The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The cruise launch marks an initiative to develop the waterway for recreational navigation and tourism.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has developed the project in collaboration with the Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, Delhi Jal Board and the Delhi government’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
The launch is part of the broader expansion of India’s inland waterways network. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, cargo movement on national waterways increased from 18 million metric tonnes in 2013-14 to 218 million metric tonnes in 2025-26.
The ministry cited an estimated transportation cost of ₹1.06 per tonne-kilometre for waterways, compared with ₹1.41 for rail and ₹2.28 for road.
River cruise tourism has also expanded, with the number of vessels offering overnight journeys increasing from five in 2013-14 to 26 in 2025-26.
Another major development was the MV Ganga Vilas cruise, which covered more than 3,200 km across India and Bangladesh, connecting 50 tourist destinations across two countries, five states and 27 river systems.
The Yamuna cruise project brings river-based recreational tourism to Delhi, although its long-term prospects will also depend on the river’s environmental condition, water quality and the sustainability of tourism-related activities.
