New Delhi, March 18: The Delhi government has issued a tender for the procurement of two VIP boats aimed at monitoring the Yamuna River. Officials from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department stated that these boats will facilitate surveillance and survey operations on the river.
The tender, released on March 12, outlines a combined estimated cost of approximately ₹6.2 crore for the two boats, with each boat expected to cost around ₹3.1 crore. These vessels will be utilized for river monitoring, surveys, and inspection tours by senior officials.
According to the tender specifications, each boat must accommodate 16 to 20 individuals and measure approximately 13 meters in length, 4.3 meters in width, and 2.1 meters in height. The boats will feature air-conditioned cabins equipped with comfortable seating arrangements.
Additionally, the boats will include specially designed business-class push-back seats, wooden-finished integrated armrests, bottle holders, and ambient LED lighting. They will also have a pantry for serving food, a washroom, and a storage capacity for about 400 liters of fresh water.
Each boat will feature an open rear deck with sofa-type seating for three to four people, facilitating public presence during official tours and inspections.
The vessels will be powered by 300 horsepower four-stroke engines and will have fuel tanks capable of holding 700 to 1000 liters. According to the tender specifications, the full-load displacement of these boats will be around 12 tons, enabling them to reach speeds of up to 25 nautical miles per hour.
Safety equipment on the boats will include tracking devices, a VHF radio signal station, firefighting pumps, emergency medical equipment, and depth sounders capable of measuring water depths up to 500 meters. The supplying agency will also be responsible for maintenance and provision of spare parts for two years.
Officials indicated that these boats will be essential for monitoring the Yamuna, conducting surveys, and facilitating inspection tours by senior government officials. They will also assist in flood monitoring and rescue operations during the monsoon season and events like Chhath Puja.
The tender process is expected to conclude by March 19, and it may take around five months to finalize the purchase of the boats. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has also acquired a 40-seat boat for a proposed cruise service on the Yamuna River between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur. This project aims to launch recreational cruise and ferry services on the river, although the start of the service has faced delays.
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