Developed along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch, the initiative aims to promote river-based tourism and offer residents and visitors a new way to experience the national capital. The project is part of the Centre's efforts to develop inland waterways as 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, Delhi PWD and Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, Forest and Environment and Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and MP Manoj Tiwari. Senior officials from the Central and Delhi governments were also present.
Speaking at the event, Sonowal said the initiative reflected the government's commitment to developing India's inland waterways under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the cruise service would help reconnect people with rivers while creating opportunities for tourism, trade and livelihoods.
The project features a 30-seater electric cruise vessel that will offer visitors a journey along an approximately 6-km round-trip stretch of the Yamuna. The use of electric propulsion also highlights the potential of inland waterways for cleaner mobility.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the service would add a new dimension to Delhi's tourism landscape and encourage public engagement with the river. She added that the government aims to develop the Yamuna riverfront as a public destination through improved amenities, sustainable infrastructure and experiences that reflect the city's heritage.
Envisioned as an eco-tourism destination, the project includes several recreational attractions and visitor facilities. A musical fountain with a coordinated light and soundhow will depict the history and spiritual significance of the Yamuna, including its associations with Surya Dev, Yama and the stories of Shri Krishna, particularly Kaliya Daman.
Other facilities include a food court, shopping area, children's play zone and adventure sports activities such as skating and rock climbing. The site also features floating jetties, ticket counters, online booking facilities, restrooms, waiting areas and illuminated approach pathways.
The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The cruise service marks a step towards developing the waterway for recreational navigation and river-based tourism in Delhi.
The initiative comes amid an expansion of inland waterway transport across the country. Cargo movement on national waterways increased from 18 million metric tonnes in 2013-14 to 218 million metric tonnes in 2025-26. The average freight movement cost on waterways is estimated at Rs 1.06 per tonne-kilometre, compared with Rs 1.41 by rail and Rs 2.28 by road.
River cruise tourism has also expanded, with the number of vessels offering overnight journeys increasing from five in 2013-14 to 26 in 2025-26. Another milestone was the journey of MV Ganga Vilas, which covered more than 3,200 km across India and Bangladesh, connecting 50 tourist destinations across two countries, five states and 27 river systems. The journey was recognised in the Limca Book of Records as the world's longest river cruise.
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 Delhi government's Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
