New Year: Bengaluru to impose Section 144 from 6 pm today

The Bengaluru City Police imposed section 144 (prohibitory orders) on Dec 31 that will kick in at 6 pm and last till 6 am on January 1 to prevent revelry in public places on New Year's Eve due to the pandemic.

The police have also prohibited celebrations after 11 pm on New Year's Eve.

Anticipating a huge turnout at Bengaluru’s central business district on New Year’s eve, police have banned vehicles on some CBD roads from 8 pm on December 31 to 6 am on January 1.

The ban is applicable to all kinds of vehicles barring emergency vehicles on MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Museum Road, Residency Road and Rest House Road.

This apart, entry to pubs and restaurants in CBD areas including Indiranagar and Koramangala will only be allowed with prior passes or coupons. Partygoers can show the passes to the police and walk to these places. With prohibitory orders (section 144 of CrPC) in place, people cannot gather in groups. Further, all establishments will be shut by 11 pm.

B R Ravikanthe Gowda, the joint commissioner of police (Traffic), said, “Traffic police will also check for drunk driving at 668 places. Violators will be booked and vehicles seized. Licences of violators will be cancelled.”

Police will also set up ‘Naka Bandi’ at 191 places to check anti-social elements and people loitering. Gowda noted that Covid-19 can’t be an excuse for evading a breath test.

"Considering the incidents of fatal and non-fatal accidents reported after unlock, we will deal with the tests very seriously", he said.

(The story has been corrected to change headline form 12 noon previously to 6 pm)