The electric-powered Namo Yamuna River Safari will operate along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch to promote river-based tourism.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate Delhi’s first recreational Yamuna cruise service at Sonia Vihar on Tuesday, according to reports by ANI, The News Mill and The Pioneer.
The service, named Namo Yamuna River Safari, will operate along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of the river. The electric-powered vessels will accommodate up to 30 passengers per ride.
The inauguration will be attended by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur. Other attendees include Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra, Public Works Department and Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra.
The river Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The initiative is being spearheaded by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
The project is a collaborative effort involving the IWAI, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the Delhi Government. Trial runs of the vessel were successfully conducted last month.
The service aims to promote river-based tourism and sustainable inland water transport. Facilities being developed at the site include a restaurant, food kiosks, a kids’ zone, and other public amenities.
