New Delhi | "I have always associated the Yamuna with pollution, but seeing its vast stretch of water from the middle of the river was a completely different experience," said a visitor on Tuesday after taking a ride on an electric cruise on the river -- a service started under Namo Yamuna River Safari.
Rajiv Malhotra, after taking his maiden ride, said the experience offered a different perspective of the Yamuna, which people generally associate with pollution and waste.
Twenty-eight-year-old Neha Sharma also shared a similar experience after taking the ride.
"I have travelled to different places where river cruises are a popular attraction, but never thought Delhi would have something like this. It was exciting to experience it here rather than having to travel somewhere else," she said.
The safari was inaugurated in the morning as part of an initiative to promote tourism and recreational activities along the river.
Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said the initiative would allow people to experience the Yamuna more closely while connecting with the capital's natural and cultural heritage.
The cruise operates along an approximately 4-km stretch between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur and can accommodate 30 passengers. The complete journey takes around 35 to 45 minutes, with passengers travelling along the designated route before returning to their starting point. The Delhi government plans to introduce a second electric cruise with similar capacity by February-March 2027.
The broader project identifies an approximately 6-km stretch between Wazirabad Barrage and Jagatpur as suitable for water transport. A minimum navigational depth of 1.5 metres has been prescribed for operating small passenger vessels along the stretch.
The entry fee to the premises is Rs 50, while the fare for a complete cruise journey has been fixed at Rs 500.
A riverfront terminal has been developed at Sonia Vihar, with two floating jetties to facilitate passenger boarding and disembarkation. The terminal also has ticket counters, a guard room, paid vehicle parking, a waiting area, a food court and commercial shops.
The premises feature a children's play zone, gaming activities, ecological trails and walking paths, allowing visitors to explore the riverfront beyond the cruise ride.
A theme-based musical fountain has also been developed, through which the story of Lord Krishna and the significance and glory of Yamuna will be presented through music.
Other facilities include a charging station for electric cruises, separate toilet facilities for men, women and persons with disabilities, a sewage treatment plant, a borewell for drinking water and kitchen and storage areas.
The project also includes lighting arrangements and an access road paved with concrete blocks. Electric-powered vessels are intended to promote environment-friendly transport and sustainable river tourism.
The service will remain closed every year from July 1 to September 30, keeping in view the river conditions during the monsoon.
The project has been developed in coordination with the IWAI, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Jal Board, Irrigation and Flood Control Department and Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation.
Mishra said work on cleaning the Yamuna was progressing continuously and the remaining work would also be completed in due course.