With entry to the top hangout spots, MG Road, Brigade Road and Commercial Street, restricted for vehicles, it was a virtual sea of humanity as revellers in huge numbers descended on to the roads clicking each other on their cellphones, having a field day. Giving them company were groundnut, samosa and corn sellers making a quick buck as people gathered around them to have a snack or two. Not to allow the situation to get out of hand, a posse of policemen were seen at the corner of every intersection keeping a watchful eye, while sniffer dogs patrolled the streets.

First-time
For Megha and Vikram, both techies, it was the first time they had come to enjoy the new year by hanging out to usher it in with such revelries. “The crowd is mindboggling and it’s fun out here. With everybody in the party mood, why not enjoy it in style,” they asked.

While some whistled and cheered on, others took a stroll down the stretch of the road waving at each other, uncorking champagne with fellow merry-makers seemingly high on spirits.

Restaurants, snack bars and pubs were also open to full capacity. On the flip side of the celebrations, crowds were seen littering the roads with paper and food left-overs. Piled-up litter was the order of the day even on main thoroughfares including MG Road. Revellers threw pieces of paper and leftover snack plates all over the road, leaving the area to resemble a vast open dustbin.