Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates ₹500 Yamuna Cruise Service in Delhi

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday inaugurated a recreational cruise service on the Yamuna at Sonia Vihar, giving Delhi residents and tourists a new river-based leisure option.

The Yamuna cruise service Delhi initiative, branded as the Namo Yamuna River Safari, operates along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch and is intended to promote river tourism in the national capital.

₹500 Ticket for Around 40-Minute Ride

The cruise fare has been fixed at ₹500 per passenger.

The service covers roughly 4-5 km, with individual rides lasting around 40 minutes.

Each vessel can accommodate a maximum of 30 passengers.

Tickets are expected to be available online through the Delhi Tourism booking system.

Sonia Vihar to Jagatpur Route

The cruise operates between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, on a stretch of the Yamuna upstream of the Wazirabad barrage.

Official and media reports have described the route as approximately five kilometres, though some estimates place the complete operating journey slightly longer depending on how the round trip is measured.

The project is intended to turn this section of the river into a recreational and tourism zone.

Rekha Gupta Says Cruise Will Bring People Closer to Yamuna

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the new service would allow residents to experience the Yamuna in a way that was previously more commonly associated with river-tourism destinations elsewhere.

She said the cruise, together with other recreational facilities, would provide families with a new place to spend leisure time.

The Chief Minister has previously said the project is intended to deepen Delhi residents' connection with the Yamuna while expanding the city's tourism offerings.

Recreational Activities Planned Along Riverfront

The wider tourism development includes recreational facilities around the cruise site.

Plans associated with the project have included:

• Food kiosks and restaurants

• Children's recreation areas

• Riverfront leisure facilities

• Light-and-sound entertainment

• Other family-oriented amenities

These facilities are being developed alongside the cruise operation to establish Sonia Vihar as a broader recreational destination.

Electric Boats to Promote Cleaner Tourism

The vessels used for the Yamuna cruise service Delhi are electrically powered.

Authorities have presented the boats as an example of how inland waterways can support cleaner and more sustainable recreational transport.

The boats are also air-conditioned and have onboard safety and sanitation facilities.

Zero-Discharge Bio-Toilets and Life Jackets

Safety and environmental features aboard the vessels include:

• Zero-discharge bio-toilets

• Life jackets

• Public announcement systems

• Air-conditioned passenger areas

The zero-discharge system is intended to ensure that waste from the vessel is not released into the river.

Trial Runs Conducted Before Launch

Trial runs of the cruise were conducted in October ahead of the formal inauguration.

Senior officials from the Inland Waterways Authority of India and the Delhi government participated in the preparations and trials.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had also inspected the service during the trial phase.

IWAI and Delhi Government Agencies Developed Project

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in partnership with Delhi government agencies.

An agreement to develop cruise tourism on the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur section was signed in 2025.

The project is part of a broader effort to make greater recreational use of the Yamuna while expanding Delhi's tourism infrastructure.

Sonowal Highlights Growth of Inland Waterways

Speaking at the inauguration, Sonowal highlighted India's development of inland waterways over recent years.

He said the waterways sector had expanded significantly and presented the Delhi cruise project as another example of using rivers for tourism, transport and economic activity.

The Yamuna is designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016.

Ministers Attend Cruise Launch

The inauguration was also attended by Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, Delhi ministers and other public representatives.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways had confirmed their participation ahead of the launch.

New Tourism Experience for Delhi

The Namo Yamuna River Safari gives Delhi residents and tourists a new way to experience the riverfront while combining cruise tourism with family recreation.

With ₹500 tickets, electric vessels and a roughly 40-minute journey, authorities hope the service will become a significant new attraction in Delhi's tourism landscape.