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Major cities in India have implemented stringent security measures, including restrictions and additional checkpoints to ensure safe and orderly New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Restrictions in place for New Year’s Eve celebrations (Photo: PTI)
The countdown for 2025 has begun and the nation is gearing up for grand celebrations. Anticipating massive crowds across various cities, the police have made elaborate arrangements and are all set to keep a watch on people, especially on popular celebration spots.
Major cities across the country have introduced regulations to ensure safety and prevent untoward incidents on New Year’s Eve. To maintain law and order, a strict watch would also be kept on drink-driving.
RESTRICTIONS IN DELHI, WATCH ON DRINK-DRIVING
The Delhi Police have announced robust security arrangements for New Year’s Eve, and have deployed nearly 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel to maintain law and order. Deployments in the border areas of the national capital have also been increased, as many are expected to arrive in Delhi from adjoining states.
Restrictions shall be imposed from 8 pm onwards on Tuesday in the area of Connaught Place till the end of New Year celebrations. It will be applicable to all private and public transport vehicles.
According to the police, buses headed towards Connaught Place will be diverted, starting from 7 pm on December 31, and the exit gates of Rajiv Chowk Metro Station will be closed after 9 pm on December 31 to prevent overcrowding.
Sharing information about the deployment in the New Delhi district, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla told news agency PTI, “Large crowds are expected to gather in various clubs, hotels, restaurants, pubs, malls, eating houses, and parks and special arrangements will be made for Connaught Place/Connaught Circus, Khan Market, five-star hotels, including The Lalit, Imperial, Park, Royal Plaza, Shangri-La, Le Meridien, Taj Mahal, Taj Vivanta, Metropolitan, Claridges, Ashoka, Samrat, ITC Maurya, and Taj Palace, India Gate, ‘C’ Hexagon and Kartavya Path, temples and gurudwaras.”
AMBULANCES, FIRE TENDERS, JAIL VANS ON STANDBY IN DELHI
Police said two ambulance vans, two fire tenders, two jail vans, two teams of bomb disposal squad, 28 door frame metal detectors, two teams of SWAT, three teams of Prakram vehicles, 33 MPVs, 30 motorcycle-patrolling teams, 43 foot-patrolling teams, 29 border pickets, 30 vehicle-checking parties at parking lots, seven plain-cloth spotters and five arrest parties will be deployed.
Doctors will be deployed to conduct medical examinations of people driving under the influence of alcohol. An excise inspector will be deployed to check violations of excise laws and prohibition regulations.
The DCP further said that searching/frisking of all individuals will be conducted, no person will be allowed to consume liquor in public places, adding people with valid invitation cards from hotels/restaurants will be allowed to proceed towards Connaught Place.
The DCP added 47 pickets have been erected for the diversion of other vehicles from the Connaught Place area.
A strict action shall be taken against drink-driving, overspeeding, stunt biking, reckless driving, zig-zag and dangerous driving, etc., he said.
The police have secured 35 key celebration venues for special security coverage, adding teams will monitor important spots like 15 malls, motels, cinema halls, and other popular places.
He added adequate security measures have been deployed at 21 bus stops to prevent untoward incidents, 60 motorcycle-patrolling staff have been deployed on critical roads, eight prominent hotels will get enhanced security, and security has been enhanced at the Hauz Khas village party hub.
He further said that seven ACPs, 38 inspectors, 329 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, and 161 female personnel will be deployed at various locations. The deployment includes foot and vehicle patrols for heightened visibility and traffic management.
For traffic arrangements, Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic) DK Gupta said, “We have made elaborate traffic arrangements for the New Year celebrations. The focus will be on Connaught Place, near India Gate, Hauz Khas Market, Saket mall, Ambience Mall etc. We have distributed stickers for the vehicles entering Connaught Place after 8 pm. We have identified 10 spots at Connaught Place where people can’t go with their vehicles.”
“We have deployed staff at 14 points at the India Gate,” Gupta said, adding that restrictions will be imposed to prevent overcrowding in the area.
METRO RESTRICTIONS IN DELHI
To ensure public safety, commuters will not be allowed to exit from Rajiv Chowk metro station after 9 pm on New Year’s Eve, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said on Monday.
However, the entry of passengers into the station will be allowed.
Additionally, from 8 pm onwards, QR tickets for Rajiv Chowk station will not be issued through DMRC’s mobile application to facilitate the smooth implementation of these measures.
Metro services on the rest of the network will operate as per the regular timetable.
CHECKS ON DRINK-DRIVING IN GURUGRAM
In Gurugram, more than 80 traffic police personnel will be deployed at various checkpoints to curb drink-driving on New Year’s Eve. According to PTI, special checkpoints (naakas) will be set up at eight key locations to ensure strict enforcement of anti-drink-driving measures, a senior police officer was quoted as saying.
The officer said during New Year celebrations incidents of drinking and driving increase. For public safety and smooth traffic operations, eight dedicated checkpoints will focus on drink-and-drive violations.
The deployment will include eight traffic inspectors, 16 zonal officers, eight road safety officers and 50 other personnel, he added.
DCPs across all zones have been instructed to set up additional checkpoints in their respective areas to ensure peaceful and safe celebrations, Traffic Deputy Commissioner of Police Virender Vij said.
Action will be taken under the Motor Vehicle Act against everyone caught driving under the influence of alcohol, Vij said.
SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS IN KOLKATA
On December 31, the Metro Railway Kolkata will strengthen security arrangements with special teams posted at Park Street station, close to the hub of celebrations, and several other stations along the Blue Line (Dakshineswar-New Garia corridor) and round-the-clock CCTV monitoring at the central control room.
Six special trains will be operated three each on the UP and DN lines after 9.40 pm on New Year’s Eve.
Anticipating rush at Esplanade, Park Street, Maidan, Rabindra Sadan, Dum Dum and Dakshineswar Metro stations, well-trained RPF personnel will be deployed at all entry and exit gates on New Year’s Eve, a Metro Railway statement told PTI.
Another special team consisting of one officer and four staff will be deployed at the Park Street Metro station.
An adequate number of Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff will be deployed at Park Street, Maidan and Esplanade Metro stations to provide proper guidance to the commuters.
Anti-sabotage checking will also be stepped up at these stations.
Several women RPF officers and staff will be deployed at Park Street station to ensure the safety and security of women and children. One special team consisting of a sub-inspector/assistant sub-inspector and four staff including two women will be present at Park Street, Maidan and Esplanade Metro stations.
To monitor real-time developments, adequate staff will be posted at the central control room of North-South Metro, with regular CCTV monitoring to ensure the safety and security of passengers.
The statement said six additional services (three on UP and DN lines each) will be run at night on New Year’s Eve for the benefit of the commuters on the Blue Line.
Of these six services, the trains from Dakshineswar for Kavi Subhash (New Garia) will be available at 9.48 pm, 10.03 pm and 10.18 pm. From Kavi Subhash trains will leave for Dakshineswar at 9.55 pm, 10.10 pm and 10.25 pm.
These special Metro services on the occasion will be available at an interval of 15 minutes.
METRO TIMINGS CHANGED IN HYDERABAD
As the police administration across all the major cities is taking significant steps to ensure safety and security during the New Year celebrations, the timings of Hyderabad Metro trains have been extended.
To facilitate the New Year celebrations and to ensure safe travel for commuters, Hyderabad Metro Rail will operate extended hours on New Year’s Eve.
Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, MD, NVS Reddy stated that the last train will leave from all terminal stations at 12.30 am and reach their respective endpoints by about 1.15 am on January 1, 2025, providing safe and convenient late-night connectivity for passengers.
Additionally, a free ride will be made available to tipplers to help them return home safely after New Year celebrations on December 31, the New Indian Express reported.
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS IN VISAKHAPATNAM
The Visakhapatnam Police have issued traffic regulations for all residents on New Year’s Eve. According to the city police, “The flyover bridge from Vemana Mandiram to DLO Junction will remain closed for both vehicles and pedestrians from 8.00 pm on December 31 to 5.00 am on January 1, 2025, for public safety.”
As per the traffic regulations, “On January 1, devotees bringing their vehicles for pooja at the Sampath Vinayaka Temple must park on the left side of the road from Goti Sons to Kalamandir in a single line, without obstructing traffic. Similarly, vehicles should park in a single line on the right side of the road from the GVMC Commissioner’s Bungalow to Vemana Mandiram. Vehicle poojas in front of the temple will not be permitted.”
The regulations further state that no vehicular movement or parking will be allowed on this stretch from 8.00 pm on December 31 to 5.00 am on January 1, 2025.
“From 8:00 pm to 5:00 am, the middle lane of the BRTS Road will be closed from Hanumanthawaka to Adavivaram Junction, Goshala Junction to Vepagunta Junction, and Pendurthi Junction to NAD Junction via Convent Junction. Emergency vehicles can use the service roads on either side. For safety, the middle lane from Maddilapalem Junction to Rama Talkies and the underpass near RTC Complex will also be closed from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am,” according to the regulations.
Beach visitors have also been instructed to park their vehicles in designated parking areas and walk to the beach.
4,000 COPS DEPLOYED ACROSS SURAT IN GUJARAT
As Surat prepares to ring in the New Year, the city is taking significant steps to ensure safety and security during the celebrations. DCP Hetal Patel announced that more than 4,000 police personnel will be deployed throughout the city to manage crowds and maintain law and order on December 31.
Speaking to the media, DCP Patel highlighted the enthusiasm among the youth for the upcoming celebrations and emphasised the comprehensive security measures in place.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm among the youth about December 31, for which a lot of preparations have been done by Surat Municipal Corporation. More than 4,000 police personnel will be deployed on the roads,” she said.
Patel also pointed out that these preparations have been underway for the last week, with the authorities focusing on vehicle checking and surveillance.
NAVI MUMBAI POLICE GEAR UP
As the countdown for the New Year celebration has begun, Navi Mumbai Police were also gearing up to ensure that the festivities go on peacefully without any untoward incidents.
Milind Bharambe, Commissioner of Police, Navi Mumbai was quoted by news agency ANI as saying that police personnel will be deployed to ensure the safety of every citizen and also urged the people to remain responsible during celebrations in adherence to laws and regulations.
Additionally, officers will be deployed in civil dress to keep a check on drug consumption in major areas of the city.
RESTRICTIONS IN BENGALURU
Given the New Year celebrations, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Monday that thousands of police personnel have been deployed and all necessary preparations have been made to ensure that no untoward incidents happen in Bengaluru City and the entire state.
He also appealed to the public not to get involved in any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, speaking to PTI videos, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that more than 1,000 cameras have been installed across the city by all the departments and warned that no nuisance will be tolerated.
Elaborate arrangements have been made by the Bengaluru Police for the upcoming New Year celebrations in the city, with tight security deployment in areas with heavy footfall to ensure public safety and the smooth flow of traffic.
A total of 11,830 police personnel, including senior officers along with civil defence staff and others, will be maintaining strict vigilance across the city, monitoring any potential rave parties and drug-related activities.
