The Impressive TimesDelhi, March 11, 2025- The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with various agencies of the Delhi government, including the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). The agreement aims to develop cruise tourism along a four-kilometer stretch of the Yamuna River (National Waterway 110) between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur.
The MoU signing ceremony took place at Asita Park, Delhi, in the presence of Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State for MoPSW Shantanu Thakur, and senior officials, including T K Ramachandran, Secretary, MoPSW, and Vijay Kumar, Chairman, IWAI.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized the government’s commitment to modernizing India’s waterways, stating that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, significant progress has been made in inland water transport. He highlighted that the introduction of cruise tourism on the Yamuna would contribute to cleaner and more efficient waterways while enhancing tourism in the national capital.
The initiative will introduce electric-solar hybrid boats, each with a capacity of 20 to 30 passengers. These boats will be equipped with bio-toilets, public announcement systems, and life jackets to ensure passenger safety. Additionally, IWAI will install two HDPE jetties to facilitate ferry operations, promoting short-distance navigation and recreational activities on NW-110, upstream of the Wazirabad Barrage.
Declared a national waterway in 2014, the Yamuna River stretch from Jagatpur in Delhi to its confluence with the Ganges at Prayagraj spans 1,089 kilometers across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. IWAI has been actively working on developing inland waterways nationwide, including the enhancement of NW 1, NW 2, NW 3, and NW 16, with new terminals, fairways, night navigation aids, and locks.
The collaboration between IWAI and the Delhi government is expected to significantly boost urban water transport and eco-friendly tourism, while contributing to economic growth and improved travel experiences along the Yamuna.
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