New Delhi: Delhi’s new recreational attraction, its first Yamuna cruise service, will be launched Tuesday, offering residents and tourists an opportunity to explore the city from the water.Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, in the presence of lieutenant governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and chief minister Rekha Gupta, will inaugurate the service at Sonia Vihar.Namo Yamuna River Safari will operate along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of Yamuna. It will cover around 5km, with each ride lasting approximately 40 minutes. The fare has been fixed at Rs 500 per person, while each trip can accommodate a maximum of 30 passengers.The service is being introduced as part of efforts to develop Yamuna as a recreational and tourism destination in the capital. The eco-friendly cruise is expected to give visitors a different perspective of Delhi’s skyline and heritage while opening up a new avenue for leisure activities along the river, said sources. Trial runs were conducted in Oct in the presence of senior officials from Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Delhi govt.The initiative is being spearheaded by IWAI under the Union ministry of ports, shipping and waterways. The cruise vessels will be electrically powered, highlighting the potential of inland waterways for clean and sustainable transport. The boats will also have safety arrangements, including life jackets and public announcement systems.Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under National Waterways Act 2016. The waterway stretches around 1,080km from Jagatpur in Delhi to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. The development of the cruise service is aimed at harnessing a section of this waterway for recreational navigation and tourism.
