Delhi preps for New Year bash: 15,000 cops deployed, no exit at Rajiv Chowk metro from 9 pm; Check traffic advisory before you leave for party tonight
Delhi Police has given special attention to the national capital's posh commercial hub Connaught Place as the area is known to attract a massive crowd on the New Year's eve annually.
As the Delhiites prep to have a ball at the New Year's eve, the Delhi Police is working hard to ensure that the celebrations go off smoothly. Apart from special traffic arrangements to ensure regular movement of revelers, around 15,000 police personnel have been deployed across the national capital.
Special arrangements in Connaught Place:
Delhi Police has given special attention to the national capital's posh commercial hub Connaught Place as the area is known to attract a massive crowd on the New Year's eve annually. But if you are also planning to ring in 2019 at Connaught Place, make sure you check the traffic restrictions first.
Traffic movement in and around CP:
#All vehicular movement will be restricted from 8 pm onwards to Connaught Place till the celebrations conclude. "Vehicular traffic in the inner, middle or outer circle of Connaught Place will not be allowed," BK Singh, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said.
#According to the traffic advisory, vehicles will not be allowed to proceed towards Connaught Place beyond round about of Mandi House, round about of Bengali Market, north foot of Ranjit Singh Flyover, Minto Road, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg crossing, Chelmsford Road near Munje Chowk (New Delhi Railway Station), RK Ashram Marg-Chitragupta, round about of Gole Market, round about of GPO, Patel Chowk, Kasturba Gandhi Road-Ferozshah Road Crossing, Jai Singh Road-Bangla Sahib Lane and the round about of Windsor Place.
#Motorists can park their vehicles at only specific places in the vicinity of Connaught Place, which includes certain locations near Gole Dak Khana, Patel Chowk on Rakab Ganj Road behind AIR, near Mandi House on Copernicus Marg upto Baroda house, near Minto Road on DD Upadhaya Marg and Press Road area, Panchkuian Road on RK Ashram Marg, Chitragupta Road and Basant Road towards Paharganj, KG Marg near Ferozshah Road or KG Marg to 'C' Hexagon and near Windsor Place.
Alternative routes have been arranged for commuters travelling to New Delhi railway station. However, routes to Old Delhi railway station will not be affected, officials said.
Reaching Connaught Place by Delhi Metro:
#In view of security measures, exit facility at the Rajiv Chowk metro station will not be available for commuters from 9 pm onwards. Rajiv Chowk, located adjacent to Connaught Place and one of the busiest stations of the Delhi Metro, caters to both the Blue Line and the Yellow Line.
#"As advised by Delhi Police authorities, exit of passengers from the Rajiv Chowk metro station will not be permitted from 9 PM onwards on New Year's Eve, i.e., December 31," Delhi Metro said in a statement. However, passengers will be allowed to enter the Rajiv Chowk metro station after 9 pm to board trains, it said. "Interchange facility between Line-2 (HUDA City Centre - Samaypur Badli) and Line-3/4 (Dwarka Sec-21 - NOIDA City Centre/Vaishali) will continue as usual at the Rajiv Chowk metro station till the end of services. Services at all other metro corridors and stations will continue normally," it said.
Delhi Police's special arrangements for New Year's eve: 10 points
#Delhi Police has deployed around 15,000 police personnel across Delhi to maintain the law and order situation on the eve of New Year to ensure that the celebrations go smoothly.
#To ensure that women safety is not compromised, women police personnel will also be deployed in plain clothes at various strategic locations across the city, Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) said.
#Any incident of hooliganism and drunk driving will be dealt strictly, Verma added. Officials said a special drive against drunk driving, jumping signals and dangerous driving will be undertaken by the traffic police.
#Special picket team including traffic police, PCR and woman personal will be deployed at various locations to ensure that no untoward incident happens, he said.
#Maximum police personal will be deployed at crowded places like malls, markets and metro stations, the officer said.
#Senior officers will closely monitor the situation at district-level. Fire tenders will be on patrolling duty around popular party hubs to ensure that there is no delay in helping people in case of any incident, police said.
#Hotels and restaurants where parties will be organised have also been briefed about the preventive measures to be taken, officials said.
#Special traffic arrangements have also been made at Saket, Greater Kailash, Lajpat Nagar, New Friends Colony, Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, Vasant Vihar, RK Puram, Nehru Place, Dwarka, Palam Airport, Rajouri Garden, Ashok Vihar, Model Town and Mayur Vihar.
#The police have advised motorists to use alternative routes available for North û South directions which includes Ring Road from ISBT to Ashram or via Delhi Gate, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Mathura Road to reach Ashram and via vice-versa or via ISBT, Rani Jhansi Marg, Punchkuyan Road, Mandir Marg, Park Street, Mother Teresa Crescent Road and beyond or via Rani Jhansi Marg, Punchkuyan Road, Hanuman Murti and Ring Road.
#"For East-West Movement - Ring Road, Bhairon Road, 'C' Hexagon-India Gate, Akbar Road, Mother Teresa Crescent, round about of RML, Park Street and Shankar Road have been suggested," officials said.
(With inputs from PTI)