Delhi to launch first recreational Yamuna cruise service on November 10
The electric-powered cruise service will operate along the Sonia Vihar–Jagatpur stretch, adding a new river-based tourism attraction while showcasing the potential of clean inland water transport.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the service at Sonia Vihar in the presence of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
NEW DELHI: Delhi is set to launch its first recreational river cruise service on the Yamuna on Tuesday, November 10, with the initiative aimed at promoting river-based tourism and introducing a new leisure experience for residents and visitors to the national capital.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the service at Sonia Vihar in the presence of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The recreational cruise service is being developed along the Sonia Vihar–Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna. It is expected to offer visitors an opportunity to experience the river while demonstrating the potential of inland waterways for urban tourism and sustainable transport.
The inauguration will also be attended by Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra, Delhi ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh and Kapil Mishra, and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari, along with senior officials of the Central and Delhi governments.
Yamuna’s National Waterway status
The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 (NW-110) under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
The development of the cruise service along the Sonia Vihar–Jagatpur stretch represents an effort to utilise the waterway’s potential for recreational navigation and river-based tourism in an urban setting.
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.
Electric-powered vessels to promote clean mobility
The cruise service will use electric-powered vessels, highlighting the potential of inland waterways as an option for clean and sustainable mobility.
Beyond its tourism potential, the initiative is expected to encourage greater public engagement with the Yamuna and bring renewed attention to the possibilities of developing riverfront and water-based recreational infrastructure in the capital.
The project is being spearheaded by the Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Multiple agencies involved in development
The initiative is being implemented by IWAI in collaboration with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the Delhi Government.
The project reflects an inter-agency approach to developing inland water transport and tourism infrastructure in the national capital.
The launch of the recreational cruise service marks an important step in exploring the Yamuna’s potential beyond its conventional role as a river corridor. Its long-term success will depend on the development of supporting tourism facilities, operational sustainability and the broader management of the river environment.
