New Delhi, November 9: Delhi will get its first recreational Yamuna cruise service on Tuesday, 10 November, when Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates it at Sonia Vihar, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said.
The service will run along the Sonia Vihar–Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna, which is designated National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The ministry said the launch will add a river-based tourism attraction to the capital and show the potential of the waterway for recreational navigation.
Electric vessels
The cruise will use electric-powered vessels, which the ministry described as a demonstration of clean and sustainable inland mobility. Trial runs of the vessel were conducted successfully last month in the presence of senior officials of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Delhi Government.
Who is behind the project
The project is being led by IWAI, under the ministry, and developed together with the Delhi Development Authority, the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, the Delhi Jal Board and the Delhi Government’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta are due to attend. Others expected include 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.
What is not yet known
The ministry did not give fares, vessel capacity, the number of vessels, operating hours or the cost of the project in its announcement. It said the service aims to give residents and tourists a new experience and greater public engagement with the river.
Related: Amit Shah attends launch of ₹8,941 crore Yamuna rejuvenation projects in Delhi