New Delhi: Soaking in festive spirit, hundreds of people today thronged restaurants, malls and multiplexes to ring in the New Year even as police forces remained on the toes to avert any untoward incident.
With minimum temperature settling upwards of 8 degrees Celsius, revellers had a perfect setting to indulge in celebrations hosted at various hotels, malls, restaurants, pubs, farmhouses and other public places in the national capital to bid farewell to 2015 and welcome 2016.
Famous markets and party hotspots like Connaught Place, Saket Select City Walk, Nehru Place, Khan Market, Rajaouri Garden, witnessed people arriving by droves, as many illuminated public places added to the spirit of celebrations, which will reach a crescendo at the stroke of the midnight hour.
Traffic officials would be present till 3 AM to check any flouting of rules during the year-end revelries. By 8 AM tomorrow, one more restriction in connection with the odd-even scheme will come into force.
Delhi Police preparing in advance for keeping a vigil in the city the occasion had conducted mass mock drills to ready its men and resources to counter any potential threat. The security arrangements at major marketing hubs and crowded destinations including Connaught Place have been beefed up with deployment of extra personnel.
The entire central Delhi is under heightened security with emphasis to put a check on stunt bikers and drunken driving, a senior police official said.
In co-ordination with local police and PCR, special pickets have been posted to check stunt biking, over speeding and drunken driving at vulnerable locations.
Strict vigil was also maintained at other party hotspots of the city like Saket, M-Block Market of Greater Kailash, Chirag Delhi, New Friends Colony, Defense Colony, South Extension, Mehrauli, Aya Nagar Border, Khanpur, Nehru Place near Eros Hotel and Vasant Vihar.
Vehicles have been prevented from heading towards the Connaught Place beyond certain points including Mandi House, Bengali Market, DDU Marg crossing, GPO and Patel Chowk to avoid overcrowding, a senior Traffic Police officer said.
