The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has presented a plan to start the Yamuna Water Taxi project. The NCRPB also mentioned tentative stations at Madanpur Khadar, Film City, Nizamuddin, and ITO.
According to a report published in Times of India, a meeting was convened on February 14 where transport secretaries discussed the matter at length. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is of the view that 20-25 passenger boats may be considered to start the project.
A senior official of IWAI said that hydrography of the Yamuna River is necessary to carry out the project’s viability. He said 1-1. 2 Metre water level is required for water transport and the waterfront should not only be developed for transport but also for tourism.
The new BJP government has already promised the river’s rejuvenation and the water taxi project would enhance major tourism in the national capital. The NCRPB has asked the IWAI to share the DPRs and feasibility of the project in two weeks then it will consider the project funding.
Notably, after BJP won with a historic mandate of 48 seats of 70 Delhi Assembly seats, the cleaning process for the Yamuna River was taken up and trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility vehicles were deployed to the river on February 16. Apart from that, evening Aarti also commenced at the Vasudev Ghat.
Pollution in the Yamuna was a key issue during the Delhi Assembly elections, with political parties targeting each other over pollution, encroachments, and flood management.
