New Year Celebrations: Security Beefed Up In Delhi, Mumbai, Massive Traffic In Manali Amid Rush Of Tourists

Special security arrangements have been made in Delhi and Mumbai, while a huge traffic snarl was witnessed in Manali as tourists rush to popular destinations for ringing in the New Year.

New Delhi: As people look forward to welcoming the New Year, security arrangements have been increased in states, especially metro cities, to ensure the safety of civilians who are expected to throng public places in large numbers.

Popular tourist destinations are also expecting a lot more activity than the previous two years when celebrations were marred by the Covid pandemic.

Security Arrangements In Mumbai, Special Trains For Mumbaikars

Mumbai Police has deployed more than 11,500 security personnel at key locations in the city to avoid any untoward incident on New Year's Eve.

The police are expecting large gatherings near the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu beach, Bandstand in suburban Bandra, and other prominent locations here on December 31.

Accordingly, security arrangements have been made to avoid any law and order problem, news agency PTI reported citing a police official.

As part of the security arrangements, 10,000 police constables, 1,500 officers, 25 deputy commissioners of police and seven additional commissioners of police have been deployed to maintain law and order, an official said. Apart from this, 46 platoons of the state reserve police force (SRPF), three units of the riot control police and 15 quick response teams (QRT) are also deployed, he mentioned.

Besides this, the Railways and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), have announced special services after midnight on December 31, to ensure smooth travel for Mumbaikars on New Year's Eve. The Western and Central railways will run eight and four additional local services, respectively, apart from the regular suburban services on their networks, officials said, as per PTI.

The Western Railway informed that four services from Churchgate to Virar and as many in the opposite direction will be operated from 12.15 am onwards. On the main line, Central Railway officials said, two extra services will be run between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kalyan - each will start in opposite directions at 1.30 am. Similarly, two extra services will run between CSMT and Panvel.

Delhi Police To Deploy 18,000 Personnel, 125 Spots Prone To Drink-Driving Identified

Earlier this week, the Delhi Police said more than 18,000 of its personnel from district and traffic units will be deployed across the national capital to ensure security during New Year celebrations.

Traffic restrictions will be in place at Connaught Place from 8 pm on Saturday.

Special Commissioner of Police (law and order) Dependra Pathak said, "Over 16,500 personnel from local police will be deployed across the city on Saturday in view of the New Year celebrations. This time, there will be anti-terror measures in high footfall areas where local police, in real-time coordination with the Special Cell, has made the arrangements."

"Women safety will also be our focus area and more than 2,500 women personnel will be deployed in the city," Pathak said, as quoted by PTI.

He further informed that more than 1,600 pickets for checking, over 1,200 mobile patrolling vehicles, and 2,074 bikes will be deployed.

Delhi Police has identified 125 spots prone to drink-driving as part of efforts to keep a vigil on revellers on New Year's eve on Saturday and deploy nearly 1,900 traffic personnel to identify violators, PTI reported an official as saying.

Massive Traffic Jam In Manali Amid Tourist Rush, But Hotel Bookings Lower Than Expected

A massive traffic jam was seen in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali as tourists throng to hilly areas to ring in the new year.

Meanwhile, increased tourist footfall in the Kullu district on New Year is being attributed to snowfall in Manali, the craze to see Atal Tunnel, and no entry to tourist vehicles without bookings in Shimla city.

As per PTI, president of the Manali Hoteliers' Association Mukesh Thakur said that tourists are flocking to Atal Tunnel (Rohtang) and it has increased the footfall in the twin districts of Lahaul and Spiti and Kullu besides snowfall in Manali is a major attraction. He reported that the occupancy is about 90 per cent.

Gondola at Solang, Igloo stays in Hamta, winter sports activities in and around Manali, skiing and snowboarding courses offered by Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports Manali too are the major tourist attractions, he said.

However, Vice president of Shimla Hotel and Restaurant Association Prince Kukreja informed that being a weekend and New Year, the hoteliers are expecting a huge rush but so far, the occupancy is not up to expectation.

Mukesh Thakur said that the huge rush of vehicles is not converted into room occupancy as a large number of people from outside the state have taken properties on lease and are running accommodations as tourism units without registration. These illegal properties are offering rooms on heavy discounts, he informed.

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation organised events to mark Christmas and New Year in prime properties in Shimla, Manali, Chail, Dharamshala, and other places while private hotels are also hosting events to welcome tourists on New Year.

As many as 1.39 crore tourists visited Himachal till November 30 this year compared to 56.37 lakhs last year, PTI reported citing data procured from the tourism department

(With inputs from PTI)