4,000 police officers to be deployed across the city on New Year’s Eve

The Gurugram Police have started preparing for the New Year by putting in place measures to maintain social distancing and prevent overcrowding on New Year’s Eve.

The Gurugram Police have started preparing for the New Year by putting in place measures to maintain social distancing and prevent overcrowding on New Year’s Eve. Around 4,000 police personnel will be deployed across the city to disperse crowds, maintain physical distancing and tackle law and order situation, said the police.

HT Image

The police have strengthened security arrangements to keep a vigil on crowded places of the city, including the Mall Mile on MG Road, which witnesses a high footfall on the night of December 31. The police have also instructed local intelligence officials to keep an eye on parties and functions on New Year’s Eve.

As per the authorities, bars, restaurants and pubs are not allowed to remain open after 12 midnight and only those who have paid additional fees can operate until 3 am. Apart from the Mall Mile, other areas such as Ambience Mall, Golf Course Road, Sohna Road, Golf Course Extension Road, Galleria Shopping Complex and Business Centre (Vyapar Kendra), where some of the famous pubs and bars are located, will be strictly monitored by the police. Each police station will check people’s movement and potential suspicious activities, said officials.

KK Rao, commissioner of police, said that policemen will be posted at all major locations in both plainclothes and uniform to maintain law and order. “All police personnel have been instructed to compulsorily wear face masks during duty and to try and not be in close proximity of people,” he said.

Nine teams of counter assault, bomb disposal, police riders, PCR, intelligence, crane, fire brigade and ambulance will be on alert. Apart from station house officers (SHOs), crime branch staff members and traffic officials will also be on duty, said the police.

Weekly offs and holidays have been cancelled for all officials — starting from senior police officials to the members of constabulary for Thursday and Friday, the department said.

There are special guidelines for the pubs and bars as well. The police have strictly instructed them to allow guests as per the capacity of their premises and keep a check on anti-social elements. A duty magistrate, excise officials and police officers will be on duty to implement the orders.

Apart from police personnel, 900 home guards will also help the city police during the period. Extra force will be deployed to keep a watch on party places, gardens, promenades and terraces, said the police.

From Thursday evening to Friday morning, security personnel, will be posted on roads, metro stations, bus stands and railway station.

Rao said special police arrangements have been made at Sahara Mall, Vipul Agora building, DT City Centre, Metropolitan Mall, JMD mall, Ambience Mall, Kingdom of Dreams, Sector 29, Huda Ground, Galleria market, South Point Mall, Goof Earth Mall, Cyber Hub, Bristol crossing, Sikanderpur Iffco Chowk. No parking will be allowed near these areas, he said.

There are currently 71 check points across the city and 42 additional points have been set up. Barricading has been put in place at all these places, said the police.

Rao said teams will check all vehicles entering and exiting the city. Teams will be deployed at all border check points until Friday morning. Teams of police, excise and district administration officials also will do rounds of major areas, such as MG Road, Cyber Hub, Golf Course Road and Sohna Road, to prevent any untoward incidents.