The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will launch the Capital’s first hot air balloon ride service on Saturday. This comes following a successful trial conducted at Baansera on Tuesday in the presence of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The initiative aims to enhance eco-tourism and recreational facilities along the Yamuna floodplains, officials said.
According to DDA, the tethered balloon rides will be introduced at four locations, Baansera Park, Asita Park, Yamuna Sports Complex in Surajmal Vihar and the Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex.
“Happy to share that the trials for Delhi’s first ever Hot Air Balloon rides, today at DDA’s Baansera Park on the Yamuna were successful. To be run by a qualified and professional operator, the balloon rides meet the highest standards of safety parameters,” Saxena posted on X.
Netizens troll Delhi govt
But the excitement refused to take off on social media, where users quickly punctured the idea with sharp responses. With AQI levels high enough to qualify as a household hazard, many questioned whether floating above the smog was the best way to deal with it.
“Seems like a great strategy to find better AQI at a higher altitude but for only those who can afford it. I wonder what’s priority? Hot-air or real oxygen for delhiites!” one comment read. Another read, “Fantastic idea. Delhiites can now enjoy the same polluted air… just from a higher altitude.” Others wondered if visibility issues in 500-AQI smog would turn the experience into an airborne guessing game.
A particularly blunt comment read, “How will this exactly work in smog and when AQI is 500 with such low visibility? It’s a stupid idea and a sure shot way for people to die and suffer more. Nonsense.” A Hindi comment added that while hospitals are filling with patients struggling to breathe, the government was busy offering new photo-ops in the sky.
Price for hot air balloon ride
Each ride is expected to last between five and ten minutes and will initially operate from 4 pm to 6 pm. The ticket price has been set at Rs 3,000 per person, excluding GST.
Officials added that the rides will remain tethered using ropes to ensure safety and will operate during the November-February window, which they said offers favourable weather conditions in North India.
