House parties and high streets: Bengaluru welcomes New Year in style

Bengaluru: Revellers flocked to the city’s popular party hotspots, aglow with dazzling lights.

However, the traditional party areas in the Central Business District (CBD) saw a surprisingly low turnout until 9 pm. Soon after, the crowd swelled and people had to literally elbow their way through the streets.

People from all walks of life were seen taking selfies and celebrating in style at MG Road and Brigade Road junctions. They passed through door frame metal detectors, set up by the police at various locations, including the Cauvery Emporium Junction, to ensure safety.

The floodlights illuminating the CBD enhanced visibility for both the revellers and the police. "Bright lights also act as a deterrent. We want to ensure there are no dark spots in the CBD area," said a senior officer. The police also deployed 10 drones to monitor congested areas like Koramangala and Indiranagar.

While the crowd in the CBD exceeded one lakh, Koramangala saw a larger-than-expected turnout, estimated to have crossed a lakh this year. Indiranagar, too, witnessed higher-than-usual footfall.

Headgear, masks, and flowers were a common sight at the party hotspots, although police officers continued to shoo away hawkers. Revellers adhered to Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda’s warning against using loud horns. When detected, the police seized them from the revellers.

High streets like Brigade Road, BEL Road, and Koramangala were decorated with festive lighting. Many chose to host house parties for the New Year.

Sargam Saxena, a resident of East Bengaluru, explained that house parties became the preferred choice due to the entry pass system and high fees at pubs and breweries. "We bought beverages and snacks a few days ago and plan to play music and dance at home," Sargam said.

Large, well-established pubs were packed with partygoers, while smaller establishments struggled to attract crowds. Several small venues resorted to cold-calling potential customers with enticing offers. "It was concerning how they got our contacts. Many of my friends received similar calls, even those who rarely go to parties," said Dheeman, a resident of southeast Bengaluru.

Sahithi Sirikonda, a resident of Indiranagar who attended a local party, praised the security measures, saying, “We didn’t expect such tight security, but it felt safe. The police’s efforts to make the city safe are commendable.”

In Koramangala, the crowd density was such that mobile services struggled to keep up.

Safety islands for women

Shekhar H Tekkannavar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), told DH that police anticipated a crowd of 1.5 to 2 lakh in the CBD and made necessary arrangements.

"It is a weekday, so the turnout wasn’t substantial until late evening. But by the end of the day, the CBD was packed," Tekkannavar said.

Considerable attention was paid to women's safety, with 16 safety islands set up around the CBD. Across the city, a total of 114 women’s safety islands were established to handle immediate complaints.

Women want better surveillance

Women expressed a desire for a more robust police helpline system to help track calls immediately.

"Society also needs to change and allow women to wear whatever they want. People shouldn’t pass comments when women wear short clothes and head out," said one partygoer at MG Road.

Meghdeep Patnaik, another partygoer, emphasised the need for less scrutiny of women engaging in activities like smoking. She also voiced concerns about harassment from men who felt entitled to make inappropriate remarks.

Radhika, a resident of Indiranagar, called for more safety and assurance from the police, adding, "I want establishments to stay open longer and public transport to improve so I don’t have to worry about my safety."

Nagaveni, a working professional from Bellandur, echoed similar sentiments, advocating for more video surveillance, women police officers, helplines, and stricter laws for offenders. “It’s one thing to hold the police accountable, but people in general need to make an effort to keep spaces safe for women,” she said.

Celebrations amid tight security

Despite minor incidents, Bengaluru welcomed the New Year under tight security. Police Commissioner B Dayananda issued a subtle warning to potential troublemakers, stressing that popular party spots would be under strict surveillance.

The Bengaluru canine squad swung into action, conducting security checks with sniffer dogs even before 5 pm. The squad was supported by policemen on cobras and two-wheeler Hoysalas.

Unlike previous years, the police strictly enforced the ban on loud horns and quickly responded to unnecessary noise during celebrations. They also kept a close watch on catcallers.

The largely peaceful New Year celebrations were the result of combined efforts from the police, fire departments, home guards, and civil defence. Police ensured that at least two officers were stationed every 50 meters on high streets.

To handle medical emergencies, the police set up 54 health centres across the city, while 48 police kiosks were set up to address complaints. The effectiveness of the police bandobast was demonstrated when officers found the parents of a missing child in Koramangala and returned him safely.

The police commissioner also personally visited all major party spots to oversee the security measures.

Smooth traffic

Traffic in the city remained largely under control.

MN Anucheth, Joint Commissioner for Traffic, Bengaluru, told DH that the traffic situation was generally normal, with only minor congestion in Madiwala.

Parts of East Bengaluru experienced unusual traffic due to police-imposed diversions around the CBD. A commuter travelling from Koramangala to Indiranagar noted that while there was heavy traffic, it moved slowly. "The traffic wasn’t blocked for long; it kept moving," he said.

There was also an unusually large crowd at the MG Road metro station ticket counters. A metro security guard mentioned that typically there are two guards at night, but on New Year’s Eve, there were eight at the Majestic station and three at other stations, including Baiyyappanahalli, Vidhana Soudha, and Cubbon Park. “We needed to be extra vigilant as people may have consumed alcohol tonight. We’ve dealt with incidents in the past, and we handle these situations tactfully,” he said.