Delhi’s Yamuna cruise service will begin on Tuesday, with the first sightseeing trips planned between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, according to an official statement cited by Live Hindustan. Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the service, while Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is also scheduled to attend the launch.
The cruise will operate on the Sonia Vihar–Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna. The route is part of National Waterway-110, under which the river has been designated a national waterway through the National Waterways Act, 2016. The government statement described the launch as a step towards using the river’s potential for navigation and river-based tourism in the capital.
The vessel completed a trial run last month before the planned public launch. Senior officials from the Inland Waterways Authority of India and the Delhi government were present during the testing, according to the report. The trial was conducted to assess the vessel and the proposed operating stretch before the service was opened to residents and tourists.
The cruise, brought to Delhi from Mumbai, is expected to run a one-hour round trip. The service is planned to include music, food and entertainment facilities for passengers. The route will allow visitors to travel along a designated section of the Yamuna and is being presented by the authorities as a new recreational option within the city.
Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra inspected preparations at Sonia Vihar with officials ahead of the inauguration. In a statement shared through his X account, Mishra said the Namo Yamuna Cruise would be made available to Delhi residents and that passengers would be able to travel from Sonia Vihar to the Shani temple area near Jagatpur. He also shared a video showing the cruise vessel operating on the river.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had inspected the service last month and said the government wanted to begin it before the Chhath festival. She said the cruise was intended to give families a new place for leisure and river visits in the capital, while also supporting tourism, local business activity and employment opportunities.
The launch places a recreational service on a river stretch that is also being considered within the broader framework of national inland waterway development. The official statement did not provide details on ticket prices, daily operating frequency, passenger capacity, safety procedures or the environmental conditions required for regular operations. These details will determine how the service functions after the inauguration. The service is scheduled to be formally opened on Tuesday by the Union waterways minister, with Delhi’s chief minister expected to be present.
