20,000 security personnel, traffic diversion: Delhi gears up for New Year’s Eve
As Delhi is gearing up to celebrate New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, police in the national capital have implemented a series of measures, including the deployment of 20,000 security personnel and traffic diversions across the city, to maintain law and order on the last day of the year.
According to the authorities, the 20,000 security personnel, comprising police and paramilitary officials, will be deployed on the ground to check traffic violations and hooliganism.
Security has also been heightened at Delhi’s border points with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh amid the arrival of a large number of New Year’s Eve revellers from the two neighbouring states.
In a statement, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla said special arrangements have been made in areas like Connaught Place, India Gate, Kartavya Path and Khan Market, where large crowds are expected today, as well as in some of the major five-star hotels, including the Taj Mahal Hotel, The Imperial, Claridges, Ashoka, Samrat, ITC Maurya, Taj Palace, Shangri-La, Le Meridien, among others.
He said that the overall security arrangement is divided into two zones, with overall supervision by the DCP, New Delhi.
“Zone-A will be supervised by Additional DCP-I at places likeParliament Street and Connaught Place and Zone-B will be supervised by Additional DCP-II at places like Chanakyapuri, Barakhamba Road, and Tughlak Road. There will be four ACPs, 23 inspectors, 648 police staff, 100 home guards, 11 companies of Central Armed Police Force — 10 companies of men and one company of women will be deployed.
The police have secured 35 key celebration venues with special security coverage; special teams to monitor 15 malls, motels, cinema halls; additional security at 21 bus stops; 60 motorcycle-patrolling staff deployed on critical roads; and enhanced security at Hauz Khas Village.
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS
Meanwhile, buses heading towards Connaught Place will be diverted, starting from 7 pm on Tuesday, and the exit gates of Rajiv Chowk Metro Station will be closed after 9 pm to prevent overcrowding.
As per the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Surendra Choudhary, traffic checking points with breath analysers and 27 designated checkpoints with barricades have been established, while 14 Quick Reaction Teams are stationed at strategic locations.
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.”
“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.”
