New Delhi, 10 November (H.S.): Delhi’s first recreational river cruise service on the Yamuna has been launched, marking a new initiative to promote river-based tourism in the national capital. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the service on Tuesday in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of the river.

The electric-powered cruise vessel, which can accommodate up to 30 passengers, will offer visitors a river excursion covering approximately six kilometres. The initiative aims to promote river tourism in Delhi and develop the Yamuna as a new destination for tourism and recreational activities. The service has been introduced under the name ‘Namo Yamuna River Safari’.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur; Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra; Delhi Cabinet Minister for Public Works and Irrigation and Flood Control Parvesh Sahib Singh; Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra; Minister for Forest and Environment and Industries Manjinder Singh Sirsa; and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari.

Senior officials from the Central and Delhi governments were also present, including Vijay Kumar, Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Delhi Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma; and Sushil Kumar Lohani, Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

Addressing the gathering, Sonowal said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's rivers and inland waterways were increasingly emerging as important drivers of economic growth, tourism and sustainable connectivity. He described the launch of the cruise service on the Yamuna as a sign of a new wave of river-based tourism in Delhi.

The government, he said, was working to harness the potential of rivers to expand tourism, trade and employment opportunities.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the Yamuna was an integral part of Delhi's history, culture and identity. The cruise service would provide residents and tourists with an opportunity to experience the river from a new perspective, she added.

She also emphasised that the Delhi government was committed to developing the riverfront into an attractive public destination by providing improved amenities and sustainable infrastructure.

The project has been conceived as a comprehensive tourism and recreational destination. A special light-and-sound show, accompanied by musical fountains, is planned at the site. The presentation will highlight the history and religious significance of the Yamuna, featuring the Sun God, Yama and the divine pastimes of Lord Krishna, including the legend of Kaliya Daman.

The project also includes food and refreshment outlets, shopping areas, children's play zones and facilities for adventure activities such as skating and rock climbing. Other amenities include floating jetties, ticket counters, online ticket-booking facilities, toilets, waiting areas and illuminated access roads.

The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The cruise service has been developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in collaboration with the Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, Delhi Jal Board and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the Delhi government.

According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, cargo transportation through the country's national waterways has increased significantly, rising from 1.8 crore metric tonnes in 2013-14 to 21.8 crore metric tonnes in 2025-26.

The cost of transporting goods through waterways is approximately Rs. 1.06 per tonne-kilometre, compared with Rs. 1.41 by rail and Rs. 2.28 by road, highlighting the cost advantage of inland water transport.

River cruise tourism has also expanded across the country. The number of overnight river cruise vessels has increased from five in 2013-14 to 26 in 2025-26.

The voyage of MV Ganga Vilas has been recognised by the Limca Book of Records as the world's longest river cruise journey. Covering more than 3,200 kilometres across India and Bangladesh, the journey connected 50 tourist destinations and showcased the potential of river-based tourism in the region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar