The launch of 'Namo Yamuna River Safari' marks an important step towards harnessing the potential of this National Waterway for recreational navigation and river-based tourism. (Img: X)
New Delhi: The national capital on Tuesday made a picturesque addition to its long list of tourism attractions with the official launch of 'Namo Yamuna River Safari,' a recreational river cruise service developed along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of the holy waters.
Inaugurating the service at Sonia Vihar, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the service will allow Delhiites and tourists to experience the nature up close and personal, while fostering greater public engagement with the Yamuna.
The project marks an important step towards harnessing the potential of this National Waterway for recreational navigation and river-based tourism, while promoting sustainable inland water transport and developing waterways as an integral component of urban mobility and tourism infrastructure.
The use of electric-powered cruise vessels demonstrates the potential of inland waterways in promoting clean and sustainable mobility.
The project has been developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), in collaboration with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Government of Delhi.
Ahead of the launch, trial runs of the cruise vessel were successfully conducted last month in the presence of senior officials from IWAI and the Delhi Government. The River Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra were present on the occasion. The leaders later enjoyed a cruise ride on the Yamuna River.
