Yamuna ferry service to be launched ahead of Chhath: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta
Delhi Prepares to Introduce Yamuna Cruise Before Chhath Puja
Indiadailyupdate.com – Delhi is expected to begin a passenger ferry experience on the Yamuna shortly before Chhath Puja, with chief minister Rekha Gupta saying the project is being positioned as both a river outing and a family-oriented destination. Chhath Puja is set to be observed across the country from November 13 to November 16.
The planned service will operate on a five-kilometre section of the river between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur. Passengers are expected to spend about an hour on the water, with views of riverside ghats and the landscape along the Yamuna’s banks. Tickets may cost about ₹500 for each passenger.
A launch timed for the festival season
Gupta inspected the vessel at Sonia Vihar Sports Club and also visited Sur Ghat, one of the locations where Chhath celebrations will take place. The ferry’s arrival before the festival would give residents another way to visit and engage with the river during a period when ghats become important gathering spaces for devotees and families.
“We plan to launch the Yamuna safari a few days before Chhath Puja. The area is being developed as a picnic spot where families can come and offer obeisance to River Yamuna. Even in other cities, similar services are there where people go on safaris on Ganga and Yamuna rivers and experience inner peace,” she told reporters.
The initiative had previously been targeted for a February 20 launch, alongside the completion of one year of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Delhi. That schedule was not met because work connected with the ferry remained unfinished. The revised plan places the opening closer to one of the city’s major annual religious observances.
The vessel and route
A white-and-blue boat carrying the name “Namo Yamuna” is currently stationed at the Sonia Vihar Sports Club. The craft was built by Mumbai-based Inspiration Marine Pvt Ltd and is identified as an Island Boats 40, or IB 40.
Measuring 40 feet in length, the river cruise boat uses a catamaran-style hull intended to provide stability. It has an 11-foot beam and a three-foot draft, specifications suited to operating in comparatively shallow stretches of river. Those design details are significant for a service planned on an inland waterway rather than open coastal waters.
The proposed journey is relatively short, but it is intended to offer an alternative perspective on a river that is more often encountered from bridges, roads and nearby neighbourhoods. A cruise between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur would place passengers alongside ghats and riverbank scenery rather than simply using the Yamuna as a backdrop to Delhi’s urban landscape.
More than a transport service
The planned ferry is being presented as a leisure experience rather than a regular commuting option. Its “Yamuna safari” description, expected ticket price and one-hour duration point to a recreational outing designed for visitors, families and festival-season guests. The adjoining area is also being developed as a picnic location, creating a broader public-use setting around the embarkation point.
For people attending Chhath-related events, the announcement may add interest to the riverfront at a time when worship, gatherings and preparations focus public attention on the Yamuna. Chhath Puja traditionally involves prayers offered to the Sun, often near water bodies, making the condition and accessibility of ghats especially relevant during the festival period.
The service’s opening will also test how a managed recreational activity can function on this stretch of the river. Its appeal will depend on factors visible to passengers during the journey: the condition of access points, the readiness of the boat, the quality of the surrounding public space and the experience of travelling through the five-kilometre corridor.
A new way to experience Delhi’s riverfront
Delhi’s relationship with the Yamuna combines religious significance, civic concern and everyday city life. The ferry proposal places emphasis on the river’s cultural and recreational possibilities, inviting visitors to spend time on the water rather than merely passing over it. The planned launch before Chhath gives the first journey an additional symbolic connection to the festival season.
If the service begins as planned, riders will board at Sonia Vihar for a one-hour cruise towards Jagatpur, travelling in the Namo Yamuna boat across a five-kilometre route. For families looking for a festival-season outing, the experience is intended to combine river views, nearby ghats and a new public space centred on the Yamuna.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Yamuna ferry service to be launched?Yamuna ferry service to be launched is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does Yamuna ferry service to be launched matter?Yamuna ferry service to be launched matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.