New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) With the first recreational cruise service getting operational on the Yamuna on Tuesday, Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh enjoyed a jet-ski ride in the river, the videos of which circulated widely on social media.
Singh, the cabinet minister in the Delhi government, was seen taking a jet-ski ride in the river, along with a guide. Sharing videos of his exhilarating ride, he said that this thrilling experience in Mother Yamuna’s lap will remain truly memorable.
The minister asserted that Yamuna clean-up was the top priority of the Rekha Gupta government since inception, and there has been considerable progress over the past one and a half years.
Speaking to reporters, Parvesh Verma said, "In just 18–19 months, the Delhi government has cleaned half of the 52-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna that flows through Delhi. As a first step, all the small drains discharging into the river between Palla and Wazirabad were tapped and treated. In the second phase, we will clean the stretch from Wazirabad to Kalindi Kunj, which is expected to take approximately 2 to 2.5 years."
He further wrote in a post on X, "On Tuesday, Delhi took a new step toward development and tourism on the sacred waters of the Yamuna. The launch of the capital's first cruise service is a significant milestone for Delhi."
He further explained that with the commencement of the cruise service, Delhi residents can now enjoy an exciting 6-kilometre journey from Sonia Vihar to Jagatpur.
To ensure passenger convenience, the terminal is equipped with facilities for parking, food and beverages, drinking water, and entertainment for children. Robust safety measures have also been put in place.
Notably, the project is being developed to encourage and promote river-based tourism along the Yamuna River stretch of the Wazirabad barrage. The cruise service will operate along a 4-5 km stretch of the river, between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, with each ride lasting about 30-40 minutes. The ticket prices have been fixed at Rs 500.
The cruise service came into existence following an agreement between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IAWI) and Delhi government agencies, in March 2025.