CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: New Delhi. Political rhetoric has intensified over the ‘Namo Yamuna River Safari’ set to begin on the Yamuna river in Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned the trial run of the cruise service and targeted the BJP government. Taking a dig at a small boat being described as a cruise, he said that tomorrow they will call it Titanic too.
“Do not make fun of the people of Delhi,” Saurabh Bharadwaj said, adding that cruises are generally large ships in which hundreds of passengers undertake long journeys. According to him, it is not appropriate to present a small boat operating in the Yamuna as a cruise. He questioned the claims being made by the government about the project and said the real situation should be placed before the people of Delhi.
The AAP leader made the remark when Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra inspected the proposed river safari on the Yamuna river. The government has said the project will develop new tourism options in the capital and give people an opportunity to go out with their families.
According to the Delhi government’s plan, the Namo Yamuna River Safari will operate on an approximately 4 to 5 kilometre route between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur. The trip will be around 40 minutes long, and the proposed ticket fare has been stated as Rs 500 per person. The boat will have seating for a maximum of 30 passengers at a time.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has said the government is preparing to start the service before the Chhath festival. Officials have been instructed to focus on passenger safety, cleanliness of the river and facilities for visitors.
The government is presenting the initiative as a plan to promote tourism activities along the Yamuna and create a new recreation option for Delhi residents. AAP, meanwhile, has questioned its utility and the use of the term ‘cruise’ for it.
Attention will now also be on the project’s actual utility, passengers’ response, and arrangements for Yamuna cleaning and environmental protection. Only after regular operations begin will it become clear how effective a role the river safari can play on Delhi’s tourism map.
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