Delhi’s Yamuna cruise service is expected to begin on November 4 with an initial total ticket cost of ₹550 per passenger, although the government may reduce the fare after reviewing public response to the trial project, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra has indicated.
The service will initially operate along a nearly six-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, where passengers will travel to the Shani temple and return. The round trip is expected to take about 35 to 45 minutes.
According to the report, the cruise and supporting arrangements are almost ready. The initial operation will use one cruise with a maximum capacity of 30 passengers. The government is presenting the service as a new recreational and tourism offering for Delhi residents and visitors, while describing the current fare as an introductory rate during the testing phase.
The ticket structure currently includes ₹500 for the cruise ride and ₹50 for entry to the premises, taking the total cost to ₹550 per person. Mishra said the fare would be reviewed after the service begins and people’s response is assessed. A reduction may also be considered in the future, although no revised price or timeline has been announced.
Passenger safety arrangements are expected to include life jackets and other required facilities. The cruise will also have a biological toilet, according to the report. The available details do not specify the operator, the formal fare notification or the full operating schedule for the proposed service.
The cruise is planned as part of a wider Yamuna safari and recreational area rather than as a standalone boat ride. Facilities being developed around the site include picnic areas, restaurants, food kiosks, a children’s play zone, a musical fountain and water sports facilities. The government expects the broader project to support tourism and create employment opportunities at the local level.
The proposed route links Sonia Vihar with Jagatpur, an urban river-edge stretch that has so far had limited access to organised recreational activity of this kind. The initial model, however, is small in scale: one vessel, a 30-passenger capacity and a short round trip. The launch will therefore also function as an operational test for passenger demand, safety arrangements and the viability of the current pricing structure.
The government’s fare position leaves the immediate public question unresolved: whether a ₹550 outing will attract sufficient demand during the trial period. Any change will depend on the review promised after the service starts. The next stated milestone is the planned November 4 launch, followed by an assessment of public response and the possible review of ticket prices.
