The project is being planned in two phases. Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma has claimed that people will begin to see a glimpse of the project during the current government’s tenure.
The file related to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation has been moved forward. Consultants are being appointed for the project to study the model adopted in Ahmedabad and help prepare a development plan suited to Delhi’s requirements.
The government aims to make the Yamuna’s banks cleaner and greener, creating spaces where people can enjoy morning walks, practise yoga and go cycling.
The proposed plan includes walking paths, cycling tracks, playgrounds and open public spaces along the river. These facilities are intended to provide people with better places to walk, relax and spend time. However, the final design and scope of these amenities will become clear only after the detailed project plan is prepared.
Delhi Looks to Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront for Development Model
As part of the preparations, Parvesh Verma visited the Sabarmati Riverfront with officials from the Delhi Jal Board and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department. The team examined the facilities developed along the river and how they are managed.
The government intends to draw lessons from these arrangements and adapt them to Delhi’s requirements.
However, developing the Yamuna’s banks will involve more than replicating the Sabarmati model. The plan will need to account for the river’s flow, flood risks, pollution and surrounding urban areas. Cleaning the Yamuna is also a critical part of the initiative, as the problem of sewage entering the river has persisted for a long time.
Delhi Upgrading Sewage Treatment Capacity to Clean Yamuna
Alongside the riverfront project, the government is working to increase the capacity of sewage treatment plants (STPs) to address pollution in the Yamuna.
According to Parvesh Verma, 28 of Delhi’s 37 existing STPs have been upgraded over the past 18 months. New plants are also being built to add sewage treatment capacity of 250 million gallons per day.
The government aims to ensure that all sewage generated in Delhi is treated, preventing untreated wastewater from entering the Yamuna. The minister has claimed that the impact of the river-cleaning efforts will become visible in around two and a half years.
Achieving this target will also depend on ensuring that treatment plants operate properly, sewage is effectively channelled to them and pollution from drains is controlled.
The Yamuna flows for approximately 52 kilometres through Delhi. The stretch of around 22 kilometres between the Wazirabad and Okhla barrages is particularly significant from the perspective of pollution and river cleaning. The government plans to work on cleaning the river alongside the development of its banks.
Project Timeline and Execution Will Determine Progress
The success of the proposed riverfront project will depend on how quickly consultants are appointed, the development plan is prepared, the necessary approvals are secured and construction work advances.
The riverfront could create new public spaces for Delhi residents along the Yamuna. However, the broader objective of restoring the river’s cleanliness will require effective control of sewage discharge and other sources of pollution, alongside the development of recreational facilities.
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