New Delhi: Lok Sabha member from Northeast Delhi and BJP’s city unit president Manoj Tiwari on Thursday inspected the Sonia Vihar route of the proposed ambitious “water taxi” project of the Union government. The inspection was done on the direction of Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
The Union government is taking care of the expense part of this ambitious project, including the cost of terminals, buildings, jetty, dredging, and the cost of vessels as well. The ministry of shipping and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) planned to launch the water taxi project on the Yamuna to showcase that water taxis can be used as a mode of urban transport to decongest roads in the country.
Mr Tiwari inspected the 8 km-long water route for water taxi from Sonia Vihar Zero Pushta to Tronica City. He was joined by officials from the district administration, irrigation and flood control department.
Mr Tiwari blamed Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for the delay in the introduction of the water taxi facility.
“I am surprised that the Union government wants to introduce such a good project. However, owing to the non-cooperation of the Kejriwal government, this facility is not being extended to the Delhiites. I will make every effort that this taxi scheme is started by the Central government, tiding over the hindrance by the Kejriwal government. Not only the people of Delhi, but people from all over the country and the world will come to Sonia Vihar to enjoy the water taxi ride in Yamuna,” said Mr Tiwari.
Local MP Mr Tiwari claimed that the facilities will provide a boost to tourism in Delhi.
“With the increase in the number of tourists, the entire area will be beautified and hundreds of employment opportunities will be generated,” Mr Tiwari added.
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