The Delhi government has begun the process of developing a riverfront along the Yamuna from Palla to Kalindi Kunj, with the project planned in two phases and modelled partly on the Sabarmati Riverfront. The proposal aims to create cleaner, greener and publicly accessible spaces along the river while supporting efforts to make the Yamuna cleaner and more continuous in its flow.
The government has decided to enter into an agreement with the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation for guidance on the project. The process for the agreement has started, and a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed soon, according to the report. Advisors are also being appointed to guide the planning and development of the riverfront.
The first phase will extend from Palla to Wazirabad, while the second phase will cover the stretch from Wazirabad to Kalindi Kunj, also known as the Okhla barrage. This would place the proposed project across a substantial portion of Delhi’s Yamuna edge, linking northern and southern sections of the capital through a common riverfront development framework.
The plan follows a recent visit by Delhi’s Water Minister Parvesh Verma, along with officials from the Delhi Jal Board and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, to the Sabarmati Riverfront. Verma said the best practices from the Sabarmati project would be adapted to Delhi’s local requirements rather than applied without modification.
The proposed riverfront is intended to include clean and green public areas where residents can walk, practise yoga and spend leisure time. The government’s stated objective is to provide a world-class public space along the Yamuna, although the available announcement does not provide details on the project’s estimated cost, land requirements, design, environmental safeguards or construction schedule.
The riverfront proposal also brings multiple government responsibilities into the same project. The Delhi Jal Board would have a role in matters related to water and sewage infrastructure, while the Irrigation and Flood Control Department would be relevant to the river channel, floodplain and flood-management systems. Coordination between these agencies will be central to the project as it moves from planning to implementation.
The government wants the riverfront to be made available to the public during its current term. However, the report does not specify a formal completion date, construction package, tendering process or phased opening plan. The immediate milestones are the proposed memorandum of understanding with the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation and the appointment of advisors.
