Delhites need no longer fly to Mumbai to enjoy a ride on ferry boats. The government is planning to launch a water-taxi service for them in the capital itself! You won’t, however, get to experience the scenic beauty of the Arabian sea in Delhi. But the stunning journey across Yamuna will certainly be a treat!
Ministry of Shipping and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has taken the initiative in order to boost tourism in the National Capital Region (NCR). The Central government plans to spend Rs 28 crore for this project which includes the cost of building terminals as well as the vessels.
“Taking a ride on the pilot stretch will take about 30-40 minutes. During pilot run we will either hire the boats engaged by the National Cadet Corps or hire from the agencies that provide such motorised boats. Once the infrastructure and jetties are ready, we will bring in vessels that run on both electricity (using battery power) and diesel,” an official involved in this project told TOI.
In its first phase, the ferry ride will cover a stretch of 16 km. Starting from Sonia Vihar in Wazirabad the ferry ride will end at Tronica City in Ghaziabad, in about 45 minutes.
IWAI chairman Prabir Pande said, “The Principal Committee of the National Green Tribunal gave a No Objection Certificate to the project. The land acquisition with the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi governments is in an advanced stage. It will take a few months, and after the acquisition, we will start the trial of the vessel.”
Apart from tourism, the project also aims to curb the issue of traffic jam in the city during peak hours. It will help to cut short the time of travel for the commuters.
The government is, reportedly, in talks with the concerned authorities to sanction the release of more water in Yamuna from adjoining areas. This is done in order to deal with the problem of insufficient water in the river.
Special care will be taken to keep a check on the loss of biodiversity and pollution in the river during the project.
We hope things fall in place and we get to enjoy a ride on the Yamuna soon!