Ringing in New Year: More security, traffic controls in Bengaluru's CBD

Bengaluru: Bengalureans can celebrate New Year until 1 am on January 1, City Police Commissioner B Dayananda announced on Saturday, promising extensive security arrangements. 

In a first, police will set up dedicated cab pickup and drop-off points in traditional party hotspots. Vehicles will be barred from entering MG Road and Brigade Road from 8 pm onwards, while traffic restrictions will also be in force in other places in the CBD, Koramangala, Indiranagar, and Mahadevapura. 

All flyovers, except for the elevated expressway to the Kempegowda International Airport, will be closed between 11 pm on December 31 and 6 am on January 1, 2025. Two-wheelers will barred from the expressway. 

All pubs and party places will be required to issue passes based on their floor capacity and must not exceed it. 

The top cop warned of stringent action against rave parties and the consumption of drugs and other contraband on the outskirts. 

A total of 11,830 police officers, including two additional commissioners, a joint commissioner, and 15 deputy commissioners of police (DCP), will oversee the bandobast during New Year’s celebrations, Dayananda said. 

In the CBD, five DCPs, 18 ACPs, and 41 police inspectors will be deployed to monitor the celebrations. 

Across the city, police will erect 63 watchtowers, deploy 114 women safety islands and 48 police kiosks and establish 54 health centres. In addition to the existing 2.5 lakh CCTVs, more cameras will be installed on a need basis to keep vigil. All these cameras will be connected to the police command centre, and police will also use drones for surveillance. 

People wearing weird masks to scare people and those blowing horns unnecessarily and causing nuisance will not be tolerated either, he added. 

No metro from MG Road

Anticipating a huge crowd on MG Road and Church Street on New Year’s Eve, police will bar passengers from boarding the metro at MG Road between 11 pm and 2 am. However, there will be no restriction on passengers deboarding at MG Road. 

Passengers can board the metro from Cubbon Park or Trinity station, both of which are less than 1 km away from MG Road. 

CBD restrictions

Pedestrians can enter Brigade Road only from Cauvery Emporium and must go through the door frame metal detector. To return to MG Road, they should turn left at Opera House Junction, onto Residency Road and enter via Shankarnag cinema junction. 

All vehicles parked in restricted places around the CBD must vacate before 4 pm on December 31.

Parking restrictions Traffic police will deploy towing vehicles to pick up vehicles flouting parking restrictions.  CBD (Dec 31 4 pm to Jan 1 3 am) MG Road Brigade Road Church Street Rest House Road Museum Road Indiranagar 100 Feet Road (OMR Road and Domlur Flyover Junction) 80 Feet Road (Between 12th Main Road and Double Road Junction) Mahadevapura ITPL Main Road  Between Hoodi Metro Station and Graphite India Junction  Between ITPL Medicover and Big Bazar Junction  Koramangala  80 Feet Road (between UCO Bank junction and NGV back gate junction)  Someshwara Temple Road