Rs 500 can buy you 40 minutes on Yamuna! What passengers can experience aboard Delhi's first-ever river cruise

Delhi has got its first Yamuna cruise service, offering residents and tourists a new way to explore the capital from the water. The Namo Yamuna River Safari was inaugurated on Tuesday at Sonia Vihar by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The electric-powered cruise will operate along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna, covering approximately 5 km. Each ride will last around 40 minutes, with tickets priced at Rs 500 per person. Each trip can accommodate up to 30 passengers.

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Namo Yamuna River Safari: Route, ticket price and ride duration

The new service will operate between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, introducing river-based recreational tourism in the national capital.

• Route: Sonia Vihar to Jagatpur
• Distance: Approximately 5 km
• Ride duration: Around 40 minutes
• Ticket price: Rs 500 per person
• Passenger capacity: Maximum 30 passengers per trip

The cruise is expected to offer visitors a different perspective of Delhi's skyline and heritage while creating another leisure attraction along the river.

Delhi Yamuna cruise: Electric boats and safety arrangements

The Namo Yamuna River Safari is being spearheaded by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

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The vessels are electrically powered, with the initiative aimed at demonstrating the potential of inland waterways for clean and sustainable transport. Safety arrangements include life jackets and public announcement systems for passengers.

Trial runs were conducted in October in the presence of senior officials from IWAI and the Delhi government ahead of the inauguration.

Yamuna cruise project: What is National Waterway-110?

The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The waterway stretches approximately 1,080 km, connecting Jagatpur in Delhi with Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

The newly launched cruise service will utilise a section of this waterway for recreational navigation and tourism. The initiative is part of efforts to explore the Yamuna's potential as a leisure destination and develop inland waterway tourism in the national capital.