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Delhi Govt Tenders Rs 6.2 Crore VIP Boats for Yamuna Monitoring & Surveys

The Delhi government's Irrigation and Flood Control Department has issued a tender for two specialized boats costing approximately Rs 6.2 crore. These vessels will be equipped with luxury amenities like business-class seats and air-conditioned cabins for use in official monitoring and inspection tours on the Yamuna. Beyond surveys, the boats are intended to assist in critical flood monitoring and rescue operations during the monsoon. The procurement process is slated to conclude soon, with delivery expected within about five months.

Key Points: Delhi Floats Tender for Rs 6.2 Crore VIP Boats on Yamuna

  • Two boats at Rs 3.1 crore each
  • Feature vegan leather seats & AC cabins
  • For official visits & flood monitoring
  • Bidding ends March 19
3 min read

Delhi govt floats tender for two VIP boats worth Rs 6.2 crore for Yamuna monitoring

Delhi's Irrigation Dept seeks two luxury boats for Rs 6.2 crore for river monitoring, official inspections, and potential flood rescue operations.

"The boats will be used for river monitoring, surveys and inspection visits by senior officials. - Tender Document"

New Delhi, March 18

The Delhi government's Irrigation and Flood Control Department has floated a tender to procure two boats for monitoring and survey operations on the Yamuna river, officials said.

The tender, issued on March 12, seeks two vessels with an estimated combined cost of around Rs 6.2 crore, with each boat expected to cost about Rs 3.1 crore. The boats will be used for river monitoring, surveys and inspection visits by senior officials.

According to the tender document, each boat should accommodate 16 to 20 persons and measure around 13 metres in length, 4.3 metres in width, and 2.1 metres in height. The vessels will have enclosed cabins equipped with air-conditioning systems and seating arrangements.

The interior specifications include customised business-class push-back seats made of vegan leather, integrated hand rests with wooden finish, bottle holders, and ambient LED lighting. The boats will also include a pantry for serving food, washrooms, and a fresh water storage capacity of around 400 litres.

Each vessel will have an open rear deck fitted with sofa-type seating for three to four persons to facilitate public appearances during official visits and inspection tours.

The boats will be powered by 300-horsepower four-stroke engines with fuel tanks capable of holding between 700 and 1,000 litres. As per the tender specifications, the vessels will have a displacement of approximately 12 tonnes at full load and will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 25 knots.

Safety equipment on board will include tracking devices, very high frequency (VHF) radio signal stations, fire pumps, emergency medical equipment, and depth sounders capable of measuring water depth up to 500 metres. The supplying agency will also be responsible for maintenance and spare parts for two years.

Officials said the boats will be used for monitoring the Yamuna, conducting surveys, and facilitating inspection visits by senior government functionaries. The vessels are also expected to assist in flood monitoring and rescue operations during the monsoon season, as well as during festivals such as Chhath Puja.

Currently, the I&FC department hires boats whenever required for bathymetric surveys, rescue operations, monsoon monitoring, and inspection visits by officials, according to the department's annual report released last month.

The bidding process for the tender is expected to conclude by March 19, and procurement of the boats may take around five months after the process is completed.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has also procured a 40-seater vessel for a proposed cruise service on the Yamuna between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur. The project aims to introduce recreational cruises and ferry services on the river, though the launch of the service has been delayed.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
While the cost does seem high, proper monitoring equipment is necessary. If these boats are genuinely going to be used for flood monitoring, rescue ops during monsoons, and for festivals like Chhath Puja, then it's an essential infrastructure investment. The safety specs look comprehensive.
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Priya S
Vegan leather seats and wooden finish handrests? For river monitoring? This sounds less like a functional boat for officials and more like a pleasure cruise. Our tax money is being spent on luxury items while basic amenities in Delhi need so much work. Very disappointing.
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Aman W
If hiring boats costs money every time, maybe having dedicated boats is more cost-effective in the long run. But the tender process must be completely transparent. We need to know which company gets the contract and at what final price. Hope the media keeps a close watch.
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Nisha Z
The article says the boats will help during Chhath Puja. That's a good point. Every year, arrangements for devotees are a challenge. If these vessels can assist with safety and monitoring during such important festivals, then it's a positive step. But the luxury features are unnecessary.
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David E
As someone who works in procurement, Rs 3.1 crore per boat for these specifications (13m length, 300HP engine, all the safety and comms gear) isn't outrageous for a custom-built, multi-purpose official vessel. The "VIP" label is what triggers people. They should just call them monitoring vessels.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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