Delhi launches electric Yamuna river safari: 35-minute cruise for ₹500

You can now take a boat ride on the Yamuna in Delhi. Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday launched the Namo Yamuna River Safari, a recreational cruise she called the first step in turning the riverfront into a major cultural and tourist destination.

What happened?

The service runs on the river's northern stretch, between Sonia Vihar and a temple complex in Jagatpur. An electric vessel that carries 30 passengers does the round trip in 35 to 45 minutes. The route is about 6 km round trip.

A round-trip ticket costs ₹500, plus a basic entry fee of ₹50. Along the river, you will also find food kiosks, a restaurant and a children's zone.

"The Yamuna safari will be an experience that will take people closer to the Yamuna," Gupta said at the launch. She added that Chhath, the festival where devotees pray at the riverbank, will be celebrated with even greater grandeur than last year.

What else is planned?

Tourism minister Kapil Mishra said more boats will join the safari. He also spoke about a light-and-sound show based on the life of Lord Krishna.

Water minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the Yamuna should become a tourism destination while keeping its cultural and religious significance. He compared the plan to the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad and the upgraded ghats (riverside steps) of Varanasi.

Why does it matter?

The Yamuna is badly polluted, and that is the obvious question hanging over a pleasure cruise. Cleaning the river was among the key promises of Gupta's BJP when she was sworn in as Delhi chief minister in February 2025.

Singh said contracts to upgrade sewage treatment plants have finally been awarded, and that water quality will improve as those facilities come online. He did not give a date.

What's next?

Expect more boats and the Krishna-themed show. The riverfront works are meant to grow from this first stretch. Whether the water itself gets cleaner will depend on those treatment plants.