Delhi Gets Its First Electric River Cruise as Namo Yamuna River Safari Sets Sail
A 6 km electric cruise between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur marks the first passenger service on the Yamuna's National Waterway-110.
Delhi residents can now see the Yamuna from the water. The Namo Yamuna River Safari, an electric passenger cruise, was launched on 10 November 2026 on the stretch between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur in north Delhi.
The round trip covers about 6 km. The service has been developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), which works under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, together with the Delhi government.
A waterway on paper, now in use
The Yamuna is notified as National Waterway-110, running roughly 1,080 km from Jagatpur to Prayagraj. For years the designation stayed largely on paper. The safari is the first visible step towards using the river for passenger movement and tourism in the capital.
Using an electric vessel keeps noise and emissions low on a river that is already under heavy pressure from pollution, and officials see the route as a way to bring people back to the riverfront.
What it could lead to
If the service draws steady footfall, the stretch could become a template for more river tourism projects along the Yamuna and other urban waterways. Questions remain over water levels in the lean season, the condition of the river itself and how easily commuters can reach the jetties.
For now, the safari gives Delhi something it has rarely had: a calm way to experience its own river.