The proposed boats were designed to offer high-end amenities for VIP and VVIP inspections, including air-conditioned cabins, customised business-class pushback seats made of vegan leather, hand rests with wooden finishes, ambient LED lighting, and an overall premium aesthetic. Each vessel could accommodate 16 to 20 people, and featured a dedicated pantry, fresh water storage of 400 litres, open-rear decks with three-to-four-seater sofas, and bottle holders on the seats. The boats measured 13 metres in length, 4.3 metres in width, and 2.1 metres in height, powered by 300 HP four-stroke engines with fuel tanks holding 700–1,000 litres.
According to the tender documents, the luxury boats were intended to facilitate frequent inspections of the Yamuna by dignitaries as part of the government’s river-cleaning initiatives. Officials had stated that the vessels could also serve in emergency rescue operations when required. Currently, the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department hires boats as needed for bathymetric surveys, rescue missions, monsoon monitoring, and inspections during festivals like Chhath, as per the department’s February annual report.
The proposal drew sharp political criticism. Opposition parties, including the AAP and Congress, accused the BJP-led Delhi government of misusing public funds, calling the tender “a case of misplaced priorities” and “splurging on lavish boats for VIP pleasure.”
Following the uproar, Parvesh Verma, minister in charge of the I&FC department, confirmed that the tender had been cancelled. “The executive engineer and assistant engineer responsible for issuing the tenders without prior approval have been suspended,” he said.
The cancellation comes a day after Hindustan Times reported on the tender, prompting an enquiry into the circumstances under which it was issued. The move marks a swift response by the Delhi government amid growing public and political scrutiny.
