Lucknow, The Yogi Adityanath government on Tuesday approved the Uttar Pradesh Inland Vessel Rules, 2026, providing for registration of mechanised and traditional boats operating in the state’s rivers and waterways, along with insurance coverage for passengers and boat operators.
“Until now, there was no such comprehensive regulatory framework for boats and vessels operating in the state’s waters.
Minister of State Transport Dayashankar Singh said the rules seek to bring boat operations under a uniform regulatory framework, improve passenger safety and create a centralised database of vessels and boat operators, particularly those working in the unorganised sector. Now, both mechanised and non-mechanised vessels will be registered,” Singh told reporters after the Cabinet meeting along with senior minister Suresh Kumar Khanna. The minister said mechanised vessels, including factory-made boats and larger engine-powered vessels, would be placed in one category, while traditional boats, including those fitted with motors, would be classified as non-mechanised vessels under the new framework.
However, comparable information was not readily available for several other locations, including Mathura, Ayodhya and Prayagraj. For traditional, non-mechanised boats, the registration fee would be ₹ 50, the minister said. Citing the example of Varanasi, he said the government had received data on around 1,200 boat operators there.
Registration fees for mechanised vessels would vary according to passenger capacity and carrying capacity, Singh said, adding the government had studied the rules followed in nine other states before framing the categories. “The purpose is to find out how many people are engaged in this work so that the government can provide them facilities, including safety equipment, insurance and other assistance,” Singh said. The minister said the absence of a centralised system had resulted in fragmented records, with different local bodies and officials maintaining information in different places.
