Delhi is preparing to introduce its first recreational river cruise service along the Yamuna, adding a new attraction to the capital’s tourism offerings. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the service on November 10, 2026, at Sonia Vihar, in the presence of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The cruise service will operate along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna. The initiative aims to promote river-based tourism, provide residents and visitors with a new recreational experience and explore the potential of inland waterways for sustainable urban transport.
The inauguration ceremony will be attended by several Union and Delhi government representatives, including Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways.
Delhi ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh, who handles the Public Works Department and Irrigation and Flood Control, and Kapil Mishra, Tourism Minister, will also attend. Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari and senior officials from the Central and Delhi governments are expected to be present.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), operating under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is spearheading the project. Trial runs of the cruise vessel were successfully conducted last month in the presence of senior officials from IWAI and the Delhi Government.
Opens Opportunities for River Tourism
The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The development of the cruise service along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch marks an effort to utilise this waterway for recreational navigation and tourism.
The project is expected to encourage greater public engagement with the river while creating an additional tourism experience in the National Capital Region.
The initiative will also use electric-powered cruise vessels, demonstrating the potential of cleaner inland water transport. By incorporating electric vessels into recreational navigation, the project aims to promote sustainable mobility while expanding Delhi’s tourism infrastructure.
The recreational Yamuna cruise service is being developed by IWAI under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in collaboration with several Delhi government agencies.
The partner organisations include the 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.
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