The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has come up with a plan to launch a water taxi facility on the Yamuna River in Delhi. This is intended to decongest the city roads and improve connectivity by utilizing the river for public transport.

The planned project features strategic key docking points at Madanpur Khadar, Nizamuddin, Film City, and ITO. Transport secretaries of NCR states recently met to discuss the project's suitability and implementation.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has recommended having a fleet of 20-25 passenger boats in the initial phase to cater to inland water transportation along Yamuna. They will act as an alternative commuting medium and be helpful for tourists.

Certain infrastructure and environmental needs have to be fulfilled before the project can proceed. A minimum water depth of 1-1.2 meters is required to provide for water transport operations, say senior IWAI personnel. Plans are also afoot to develop the Yamuna Riverfront not just for transportation but for tourism and recreational use as well.

To determine the feasibility of the project, a hydrography survey and comprehensive traffic study will be undertaken. The NCRPB has also asked IWAI to submit detailed project reports (DPRs) and feasibility studies in two weeks.

The project is also in line with the vision of the newly elected BJP government for Delhi, which has made the revival of the Yamuna a priority as part of its pre-election promises.

Prior to the Delhi assembly polls, the government had said it would build two jetties (a man-made structure that extends from the shore into the water) on the river as part of an effort to bring Yamuna into India's national waterways network. Extensive talks between Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena have looked at the possibilities of utilizing these jetties for transportation as well as tourism.

By these measures, the government of Delhi is making considerable efforts toward developing its waterways for smooth and efficient urban transportation.

You might also be interested in - Indonesia moves capital from Jakarta to Nusantara due to cimate crisis— Could Delhi be next?