New Delhi: Delhi is set to introduce a recreational river cruise service on the Yamuna, with Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal scheduled to inaugurate the service on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, at Sonia Vihar.
The inauguration will take place in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The service is being developed along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch to promote river-based tourism and provide residents and visitors with a new recreational experience.
Union and Delhi Government Leaders to Attend
The inauguration ceremony will also be attended by 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, are also expected to attend. Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari and senior officials from the Central and Delhi governments will be present.
Yamuna Development Under National Waterway-110
The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The cruise service marks an effort to utilise this waterway for recreational navigation and tourism.
Trial runs of the cruise vessel were successfully conducted last month in the presence of senior officials from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Delhi government.
The project is being spearheaded by IWAI under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. It is expected to encourage public engagement with the river while adding a new tourism offering to the National Capital Region.
Electric Vessels to Support Sustainable River Tourism
The service will use electric-powered cruise vessels, highlighting the potential of inland waterways for cleaner and more sustainable transport. The initiative is also intended to support the development of waterways as part of urban mobility and tourism infrastructure.
IWAI is developing the service in collaboration with 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.
