The Delhi government’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department has initiated a tender to acquire two boats for monitoring and surveying operations on the Yamuna river. The tender, released on March 12, aims to secure two vessels costing approximately Rs 6.2 crore in total, with each boat priced at around Rs 3.1 crore. These boats will be utilized for river monitoring, surveys, and inspection visits by senior officials.
According to the tender specifications, each boat must have a capacity of 16 to 20 individuals and dimensions of approximately 13 meters in length, 4.3 meters in width, and 2.1 meters in height. The vessels will feature enclosed cabins with air-conditioning systems and seating arrangements.
The interior design will include custom business-class push-back seats made of vegan leather, integrated hand rests with wooden finish, bottle holders, and ambient LED lighting. Additionally, the boats will be equipped with a pantry for food service, washrooms, and a fresh water storage capacity of about 400 liters.
Each boat will be powered by 300-horsepower four-stroke engines with fuel tanks capable of holding between 700 and 1,000 liters. Safety features will comprise tracking devices, VHF radio signal stations, fire pumps, emergency medical equipment, and depth sounders capable of measuring water depth up to 500 meters. The supplying agency will also handle maintenance and spare parts for a two-year period.
Officials stated that these boats will be utilized for monitoring the Yamuna river, conducting surveys, and facilitating inspection visits by senior government officials. They are also expected to aid in flood monitoring and rescue operations during the monsoon season and festivals like Chhath Puja.
The bidding process for the tender is set to conclude by March 19, with the procurement of the boats estimated to take around five months post the completion of the process. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has acquired a 40-seater vessel for a proposed cruise service on the Yamuna between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, aiming to introduce recreational cruises and ferry services on the river, although the service launch has been delayed.
