You can usher in New Year at sea

You can usher in this New Year’s at a boat party, with the Gateway of India in the backdrop. The Mumbai police have allowed boat owners to organise New Year parties and cruises near the Gateway of India.

You can usher in this New Year’s at a boat party, with the Gateway of India in the backdrop.

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The Mumbai police have allowed boat owners to organise New Year parties and cruises near the Gateway of India.

After the November 26, 2008 terror strikes — 10 Pakistani assailants came by sea and indiscriminately fired at Mumbaiites, killing 173 people — the police had refused boat operators permission to conduct New Year parties and cruises.

“There is no need to press the panic button. My men can control the situation on New Year’s Eve so people can enjoy boat cruises and parties in the sea without fear,” said Commissioner of Police D. Sivanandhan.

“But while entering the boats they have to be ready for security checks and frisking at the terminals. Nobody will be allowed on the boats without being checked by police personnel who will be present at the Gateway of India,” he said.

In addition to the police, even the Coastal police will keep checks on boat parties.

The Coastal police personnel will patrol the sea and if they find any person or activity suspicious they will stop the boat, and conduct checks.

All 100 small and medium-sized boats and catamarans operating from the jetty at the Gateway usually get booked for private parties to usher in the New Year.

Iqbal Mukadam, a boat operator at the Gateway, said: “Many people want to go for cruises and parties on boats. The green signal from the police is great news for all of us. Last year the ban affected our business, but that was necessary. We will cooperate with the police.”

Boat operators will have to acquire all permissions and licences needed from the departments concerned for the parties, the police said.

And boats that will start from the Gateway will have to return by 8.30 am on January 1, and stick to the rules prescribed by the government agencies.

Sivanandhan said closed-circuit television cameras will be installed at sensitive spots like the Gateway of India, where a large number of people gather to usher in 2011.