The Akshar River Cruise was launched virtually on the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad by Amit Shah, the union minister for home and cooperation. The cruise has been developed jointly by the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation at a cost of ₹15 crore and is the first passenger catamaran to be constructed in India under the Make in India initiative. The 30mt cruise has twin engines and can safely cruise for one-and-a-half hours. It can accommodate around 165 passengers.