Delhi has launched its first recreational river cruise on the Yamuna, with the Namo Yamuna River Safari beginning services on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The electric-powered vessel runs a six-kilometre round trip between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, giving the capital a new river-based attraction.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the service at Sonia Vihar, in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Delhi Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra and Deputy Chief Minister Parvesh Verma also attended the launch. After the inauguration, Sonowal, Gupta and Mishra took a cruise ride on the river.

A new way to see the Yamuna

The service, named the Namo Yamuna River Safari, is designed as a recreational and eco-tourism experience rather than a commuter ferry. The vessel is electric-powered, offering a quieter journey with lower emissions than a conventional diesel boat, and the route is intended to show passengers the river and its surroundings from the water.

Chief Minister Gupta said the launch was a special occasion for residents of the national capital, adding that the initiative would add a new dimension to Delhi's tourism landscape and strengthen people's connection with the Yamuna. She described the project as reflecting devotion towards Maa Yamuna, the name by which the river is revered by many in the city.

Sonowal said the cruise signalled a new wave of river tourism in Delhi. The launch came days ahead of Chhath Puja, the festival during which devotees gather at the river's banks, and officials presented the service as part of a wider effort to reconnect the city with its defining waterway.

Who is behind the project

The cruise has been developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in collaboration with the Delhi Development Authority, the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, the Delhi Jal Board and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the Delhi government.

The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016, which provides the legal framework for developing navigation along the river. The cruise follows an agreement signed in March 2025 between the IWAI and Delhi government agencies to promote cruise tourism along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch.

What visitors can expect

Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said the cruise safari was a joint project of the central government, the Delhi government and the Delhi Development Authority, and that more boats would be added in the coming days. He also said a musical fountain show would be held every evening, showcasing stories of Lord Krishna and Maa Yamuna.

Officials have not yet published a full public timetable or fare structure for regular services, so visitors should check official Delhi Tourism or IWAI notices before planning a trip. What is confirmed is the route itself: a scenic six-kilometre round trip on the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch, on a river that has long been central to Delhi's history, culture and religious life, but which few people have ever seen from the water.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Yamuna cruise run? The Namo Yamuna River Safari runs a six-kilometre round trip between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur in Delhi.

When did the Delhi Yamuna river cruise launch? The service was inaugurated on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

Is the Yamuna cruise boat electric? Yes. Launch reports describe the vessel as electric-powered, in line with the project's aim of promoting cleaner inland water transport.

Sources: Press Information Bureau, Government of India; Daily Prabhat (ANI).