Delhi may soon offer hot-air balloon rides with plans by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to introduce recreational ballooning at four sites: Bansera, Asita, Yamuna Sports Complex, and Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex. The pilot phase will begin at the Yamuna Sports Complex and Commonwealth Games Village, with private firms invited to operate the service on a revenue-sharing model.
Each ballooning zone will span around 60×60 metres, with operators permitted to conduct flights for up to four hours daily, subject to temporary extensions. Operators can advertise on the balloons, and licenses will be valid for three years, extendable to nine years. Ticket pricing will be firm-driven but must remain affordable to ensure broader accessibility.
These leisure rides aim to revitalise legacy infrastructure built for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, bringing new life to these spaces and boosting local tourism.
In addition, the DDA has proposed an urban ropeway along the Yamuna, beginning from the Kalindi Aviral riverfront. Still in its planning stages, the ropeway could carry 3,000 passengers per hour per direction, offering elevated views of the river, heritage sites, and Old Delhi. This is part of Delhi’s broader push for sustainable mobility and tourism enhancement.
