Keypoints:
- 35,000 policemen will be deployed across the city to disperse the crowds and maintain physical distancing.
- Bars, restaurants and pubs are not allowed to remain open after 11pm in Mumbai on New Year’s Eve, and public curfew will start from that time as well.
- Anti-eve teasing squads will be present at various locations to prevent incidents of harassment.
Amidst the 31st celebrations and keeping the Covid pandemic in sight, night curfew has been put in place until January 5 and as many as 35,000 Mumbai police personnel will be hitting the streets on the new years eve in a bid to maintain law and order across the city.
Strict actions will be taken against the owners of restaurants, pubs and other recreational establishments if their shutters are not down by 11 pm sharp, as per the night curfew restrictions. If they fail to follow the rules, they might face serious repercussions.Strict action will be taken against the owners of these places as well as against anyone else found violating the prohibitory orders.
On the new years eve, to avoid any untoward incident and to maintain strict vigil against the Covid-19 norms, is the reason why 35,000 cops will be deployed, informed the Joint Commissioner of police (Law and Order) Vishwas Nangre Patil to the mediapersons.
“As per the night curfew orders, gathering of more than five persons is prohibited. We don’t have any problem if people step out with their families or in groups of four or less,” Nangre Patil said.
Despite the restrictions, Mumbaikars will be allowed to visit their favourite spots in and around the city including Gateway of India, , Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu, Gorai and Madh Island areas, from evening onwards but only in small groups of less than four persons. “However, the police won’t allow crowding at these places,” he added.
Parties on boats and terraces will be prohibited and action will be taken against the organisers as well as the crowd if the rules are not followed, he said.
Adding to this, even the anti-eve teasing squads will be present at various locations to prevent incidents of harassment.
Policemen will be posted at beaches in plainclothes to maintain law and order, said a senior police officer. All police personnel have been instructed to compulsorily wear face masks during duty and to try and not be in close proximity of people while performing their duty unless required, said deputy commissioner of police S Chaitanya, PRO, Mumbai Police.
Like every year, the traffic police will also conduct a drive against drunk and rash drivers in the city and its suburbs.Drones will also be used to check people’s movement and suspicious activity, if any.
From Thursday evening to Friday morning, security personnel, including members of SRPF, Anti-Terrorism Cell and the riot control police, will be posted on roads and railway stations.
