Delhi's river tourism begins with the launch of Yamuna recreational cruise service
Launching ceremony
30-seater electric vessel launched along Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch; initiative aims to boost Delhi's sustainable tourism.
Delhi expands its river-based tourism offerings with the inauguration of its first recreational Yamuna River Cruise service on the Yamuna by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at Sonia Vihar.
Developed along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch, the initiative aims to unlock the tourism and recreational potential of the Yamuna while offering residents and visitors a new way to experience the national capital. The launch also reportedly marks another milestone in the Centre's efforts to develop India's rivers as vibrant avenues for tourism, passenger movement and economic activity.
The inauguration was attended by Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur; Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra; Public Works Department and Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh; Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra; Forest & Environment and Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and MP Manoj Tiwari, along with senior officials including Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways; Rajeev Verma, Chief Secretary, Delhi Govt and Sushil Kumar Lohani, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) among others from the Central and Delhi governments.
Speaking at the inauguration, Sarbananda Sonowal said the project reflected the government's commitment to harnessing India's vast inland waterways potential under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's rivers and inland waterways are emerging as important drivers of economic growth, tourism and sustainable connectivity. The launch of Delhi's first recreational cruise service on the Yamuna is another step towards reconnecting people with our rivers and unlocking their immense potential. This launch signals a new wave of river tourism in the city. We are transforming waterways into avenues for tourism, trade and livelihoods while advancing our commitment to cleaner and more efficient mobility. This is an important part of our vision of building a Viksit Bharat,” Sarbananda Sonowal said.
The project features a 30-seater electric cruise vessel offering visitors a scenic experience along an approximately 6-kilometer round-trip stretch of the river. The use of electric-powered vessels highlights the potential of inland waterways for clean and sustainable mobility.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative would add a new dimension to Delhi's tourism landscape and strengthen public engagement with the Yamuna.
“The Yamuna is an integral part of Delhi's history, culture and identity. This recreational cruise service will offer residents and visitors a new way to experience the river while creating fresh opportunities for tourism and local economic activity. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we remain committed to develop Delhi's riverfront as an attractive public destination, with better amenities, sustainable infrastructure and experiences that celebrate the city's heritage,” Gupta said.
Envisioned as a wider eco-tourism destination, the Yamuna project includes a range of recreational attractions and visitor amenities. A key attraction is a musical fountain featuring a coordinated light and sound show depicting the history and spiritual significance of the Yamuna.
The destination also includes a food court, shopping area, children's play zone and adventure sports facilities, including skating and rock climbing. Modern floating jetties, dedicated ticket counters and online booking facilities, restrooms, waiting areas and illuminated approach pathways have been incorporated to provide visitors with a convenient experience.
The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The launch of the cruise service marks an important step towards developing the waterway for recreational navigation and river-based tourism in the national capital.
The number of river cruise vessels offering overnight journeys has increased from five in 2013-14 to 26 in 2025-26. The landmark journey of MV Ganga Vilas, recognised in the Limca Book of Records as the world's longest river cruise. Covering more than 3,200 kms across India and Bangladesh, the journey connected 50 tourist destinations, traversed two countries, five states and 27 river systems.
The Recreational Yamuna River 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.
