Delhi’s first electric cruise service launched on Yamuna at Sonia Vihar

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday (November 10) inaugurated the ‘Namo Yamuna River Cruise Service’ at Sonia Vihar, introducing a 30-passenger electric cruise on the relatively cleaner upper stretch of the Yamuna.

The cruise will operate between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, covering a designated 6-km route, with passengers returning to the starting point after a journey of 35 to 45 minutes, according to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The entry fee to the premises has been fixed at ₹50, while the proposed fare for a cruise ride is ₹500 per person. Tickets will be available online through the Delhi Tourism website.

Terming the launch a “historic moment for the national capital”, Ms. Gupta said residents would no longer have to travel to Prayagraj and other cities to enjoy boat and cruise rides.

 “Through this initiative, Delhi residents will be able to get closer to Maa Yamuna, experience her natural surroundings and develop a renewed connection with the river,” she said.

The air-conditioned electric cruise is equipped with inboard bio-toilets with zero discharge, an announcement system and life jackets, officials said. A second electric cruise with the same passenger capacity is expected to be introduced by February-March 2027, according to the CMO.

The project at Sonia Vihar also includes a children’s play zone, a theme-based musical fountain, a food court, commercial shops and other recreational facilities. Ecological and walking trails have also been developed along the river.

The project was developed in coordination with the Inland Waterways Authority of India, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Irrigation and Flood Control Department and Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation.

The cruise service will remain suspended from July 1 to September 30 every year owing to river conditions during the monsoon.

River rejuvenation

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma, who rode a jet ski accompanied by a guide during the launch, said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had undertaken several measures over the past 18 months to rejuvenate the Yamuna along its 52-km stretch through Delhi.

“In the next phase, we will focus on the stretch from Wazirabad to Kalindi Kunj, which will take another two to two-and-a-half years,” Mr. Verma said.

The Yamuna enters Delhi at Palla and remains relatively clean until Wazirabad, where water is drawn and treated to meet the city’s drinking water requirements. Downstream of Wazirabad, several drains discharge wastewater into the river, making the remaining stretch in Delhi one of the most polluted in the country.

“We are working to reduce the sewage treatment gap in the city, and tenders for new sewage treatment plants have been issued,” he added.

The Minister said the DJB is working to increase the city’s sewage treatment capacity to prevent untreated wastewater from entering the river.

Cleaning the Yamuna was one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s key promises ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly election, which brought the BJP back to power after 27 years.

The river also holds religious significance for the Purvanchali community, comprising people from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, who constitute a significant voter base in Delhi. Many members of the community observe Chhath Puja by taking a holy dip in the river.

(With inputs from PTI)