Sabarmati River Cruise Faces Shutdown: ₹3.5 Crore Loss Due to Low Water Levels, Demands Rent Waiver

Ahmedabad, known as Gujarat’s largest and smartest city, has seen multiple tourism projects launched at the Sabarmati Riverfront. Among them, the Sabarmati River Cruise, launched in 2023 by the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd. (SRFDCL), is now on the verge of shutting down—similar to earlier projects like the seaplane, zipline, and helicopter rides.

Due to inconsistent water levels in the river, the Akshar River Cruise has remained operational on and off over the past two months. As a result, the managing company, Akshar Group, claims to have suffered a financial loss of ₹3 to ₹3.5 crore.

₹3.5 Crore Loss and Operational Challenges for the Cruise

Suhag Modi of Akshar Travels told Divya Bhaskar that the River Cruise was launched under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. However, due to technical difficulties caused by the receding water levels in the Sabarmati River, operations have been halted several times—leading to massive losses.

He stressed that government support is essential to keep the project alive. Promotion should also be improved, especially during peak tourist seasons. However, during monsoon, when the river level is reduced, the cruise cannot operate.

Request to Waive Rent During Non-Operational Periods

Akshar Group has approached local authorities, including MP Dinesh Makwana, MLA Amit Shah, the Municipal Commissioner, Mayor, and Standing Committee Chairman, requesting a waiver of rent during the three-month non-operational period. They also demanded better marketing support for the cruise to attract domestic and international tourists.

SRFDCL’s Ineffective Planning Results in Financial Losses

Modi highlighted that recently, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir visited the Sabarmati River Cruise and was impressed. He expressed interest in replicating the model in Kashmir under ‘Make in India’. However, in Ahmedabad, abrupt water releases during monsoon without prior notice have led to sudden cruise shutdowns.

He blamed the poor planning by SRFDCL for the cruise’s current state and significant losses.

Other Failed Riverfront Projects: Zipline, Seaplane, Helicopter Rides

Over the last decade (2015–2025), SRFDCL introduced multiple projects like the zipline, seaplane, and helicopter rides to boost tourism. However, all of them had to be discontinued due to technical and logistical issues.

• The zipline was introduced near the National Institute of Design but later dismantled due to the upcoming seaplane project.
  
• The seaplane service between Ahmedabad and Kevadiya launched in 2020, but was shut down due to river-related technical problems.
  
• A helicopter ride, introduced in 2024 to offer aerial views of Ahmedabad, also faced operational challenges and neared closure within a short time.

Unpredictable River Conditions Becoming a Headache for Akshar River Cruise

The Akshar Group pays an annual rent of ₹65 lakh for the river cruise project. However, fluctuating water levels in the Sabarmati and excessive silt and mud accumulation over the past five years have made cruise operation extremely difficult.The growing imbalance of more silt and less water has even led to physical damage to the cruise vessel. The group now insists on a rent waiver and reconsideration of the project’s financial viability due to repeated disruptions.