The Namo Yamuna cruise safari has been launched in Delhi, offering a 40-minute river journey between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur for ₹500 per person as the government seeks to expand tourism and recreational use along the Yamuna.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated the service on Tuesday in the presence of Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra. The cruise route will cover approximately four to five kilometres along the river, with the operator required to run at least four trips a day.
The project has been developed along the Yamuna near the upper side of the Wazirabad barrage. The Delhi government has presented it as a new family recreation destination within the capital, combining a river journey with food, children’s activities and cultural attractions.
The facilities at the cruise point include food and beverage arrangements, a children’s play area, a toy shop and a gaming zone. A separate exhibition gallery has also been created to showcase Delhi’s culture. Adults will have access to facilities including table tennis, while a video gaming zone has been built for visitors.
The boats are equipped with zero-discharge bio-toilets, an announcement system and safety jackets, according to the report. These facilities are intended to support basic passenger safety and onboard sanitation during the river trips.
The initiative follows an agreement signed in March 2025 between the Inland Waterways Authority of India and agencies of the Delhi government. That agreement provided the institutional basis for developing the river-based tourism project near the Wazirabad barrage.
The government has said the cruise could support tourism, local business activity and employment around the riverfront site. The project also brings a formal recreational use to a stretch of the Yamuna that has traditionally been viewed primarily through the lenses of pollution control, flood management and water infrastructure.
The launch is therefore tied to both visitor services and the management of a sensitive urban river corridor. The route, operating frequency and visitor facilities will determine how the site functions as a public destination. The service is now scheduled to operate from Sonia Vihar to Jagatpur, with each journey taking about 40 minutes.
