Delhi launches 40-minute Yamuna cruise, CM Rekha Gupta takes maiden ride

The Delhi government on Tuesday launched the 'Namo Yamuna River Safari', introducing a cruise service on the Yamuna in a bid to promote river-based tourism in the national capital. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the service at Sonia Vihar in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra.The eco-friendly cruise will offer passengers a six-kilometre round-trip experience between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, with each ride lasting approximately 40 minutes. The service can accommodate up to 30 passengers per trip, with tickets priced at Rs 500 per person. Tickets will be available online through the Delhi Tourism website.Following the inauguration, Sonowal, Gupta and Mishra also took a cruise ride on the Yamuna, marking the formal launch of the tourism initiative.The Yamuna has long been a political flashpoint in Delhi, with the AAP making its clean-up a key poll promise and targeting the BJP over river pollution, while the BJP is now seeking to turn the river into a tourist attraction. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the project would bring Delhi residents closer to the Yamuna and provide them with a new recreational experience within the national capital. She said residents often travelled to other cities to enjoy such activities, but the cruise service would give them an opportunity to experience something similar in Delhi itself.Gupta added that the cruise rides, along with proposed light-and-sound shows and other recreational activities, would create opportunities for families to spend quality time together. Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra described the initiative as a major gift for Delhi residents and said the number of safari services would be increased in the coming days. He also criticised previous governments, claiming that they could have undertaken similar projects but had failed to do so. Delhi Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh takes a motorboat ride during the inauguration of a yamuna cruise service at Sonia Vihar. (Photo: PTI) Mishra said the project was being jointly developed by the Delhi government, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Tourism Ministry. He also said around 60 per cent of the work to clean the Yamuna had been completed, while the remaining 40 per cent was still pending.HOW YAMUNA RIVER SAFARI WILL OPERATEThe cruise service is being developed to promote river-based tourism along the Yamuna stretch upstream of the Wazirabad barrage. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Delhi government agencies had signed an agreement in March 2025 to develop cruise tourism between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur.The project envisages an eco-friendly passenger cruise operating on a short river route, offering residents and tourists a different way to experience the city and its riverfront.The boats will be equipped with inboard bio-toilets designed for zero discharge, safety jackets and an announcement system. The vessels will also be air-conditioned to ensure passenger comfort.Under the operating requirements, the cruise vessels can either be leased or owned by the operator and should not be more than two years old. The operator will also be required to run a minimum of four trips every day.The operator will be responsible for ensuring safe, reliable and comfortable services, including the safety of passengers, crew members and other users of the river.Ahead of the formal launch, trial runs of the cruise vessel were successfully conducted last month in the presence of senior officials from the IWAI and the Delhi government. New Delhi: Union Minister Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and others during the inauguration of a yamuna cruise service. (Photo: PTI) Speaking at the inauguration, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted India's progress in developing waterways over the past 12 years, saying the country had made significant strides in the sector.He also praised Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's leadership, stating that Delhi was developing at a rapid pace despite the government having been in office for a relatively short period.Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur, Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra and other Cabinet ministers were also present at the launch.The Namo Yamuna River Safari is expected to add a new dimension to Delhi's tourism offerings by opening up a section of the Yamuna for recreational cruises. The initiative combines passenger ferry services with the broader objective of promoting riverfront tourism in the capital.- Ends