<p>Bengaluru: Restaurants across Bengaluru hired extra staff to cater to the year-end party crowds, according to the Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association.</p>.<p>Standalone restaurants recruited temporary staff across various departments — cleaners, cooks, servers, and security guards.</p>.<p>“We are in a non-wedding season. The staff engaged at Palace Grounds and other choultries are easily available for hiring this week. Even hotel management students are brought in and they get industry exposure,” says its president P C Rao.</p>.<p>Chethan Hegde, Bengaluru chapter head of National Restaurant Association of India, says: “Some hire guest DJs while others go with their in-house DJs. For some it is business as usual.”</p>.Quick-comm cos see record breaking orders on Dec 31.<p>Restaurants also hired female bouncers as mandated by the police.</p>.<p><strong>Auto and cab drivers</strong></p>.<p>Tanveer Pasha, president of Ola Uber Driver’s and Owner’s Association, says December 31 sees a three-fold rise <br>in bookings every year, while on <br>January 1 daytime rides return to normal. “On January 1 night, the rides go up two fold. It’s usually couples and families who take these rides,” he says.</p>.<p>Awareness was created among drivers about seeking help from the police if customers turned unruly.</p>.<p>“We told them to seek help from 112 in case of untoward incidents. We also told our drivers to double check with inebriated passengers about their drop points so that there were no last minute problems,” he says.</p>.<p>The drivers asked customers to come to less crowded junctions near their pickup point. “Church Street and Brigade Road are barricaded and closed on December 31. Customers walk towards Anil Kumble Circle, Trinity Circle or Brigade Road end (towards Residency Road),” he adds.</p>.<p>Ravi A, auto driver in Kammanahalli, says younger people stay indoors on January 1. “It is often families who step out for dinner and events on January 1. They are a safer crowd to deal with,” he says.</p>.<p><strong>Groceries and food</strong></p>.<p>Gig workers delivering food and household provisions concentrated on busy areas such as Koramangala and Indiranagar.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Raju, 27, usually delivers 30-35 grocery parcels, mostly around M G Road, on a regular day. “I plan to stick around Lavelle Road and Richmond Road, as they are less crowded compared to M G Road. Most people in these neighbourhoods don’t step out as they are aware of how chaotic things can get. So everyone uses apps for their needs,” he says.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year on New Year’s Eve, he managed to make 10 extra deliveries, and earn a little extra. “The surge charge adds to our income on days like this,” he says.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Food delivery agents in Indiranagar informally divided the locality into territories to manage their deliveries more efficiently. “We chose different parts of the neighbourhood so that everyone could get their orders quicker,” says Nanju Gowda, food delivery agent.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Restaurants across Bengaluru hired extra staff to cater to the year-end party crowds, according to the Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association.</p>.<p>Standalone restaurants recruited temporary staff across various departments — cleaners, cooks, servers, and security guards.</p>.<p>“We are in a non-wedding season. The staff engaged at Palace Grounds and other choultries are easily available for hiring this week. Even hotel management students are brought in and they get industry exposure,” says its president P C Rao.</p>.<p>Chethan Hegde, Bengaluru chapter head of National Restaurant Association of India, says: “Some hire guest DJs while others go with their in-house DJs. For some it is business as usual.”</p>.Quick-comm cos see record breaking orders on Dec 31.<p>Restaurants also hired female bouncers as mandated by the police.</p>.<p><strong>Auto and cab drivers</strong></p>.<p>Tanveer Pasha, president of Ola Uber Driver’s and Owner’s Association, says December 31 sees a three-fold rise <br>in bookings every year, while on <br>January 1 daytime rides return to normal. “On January 1 night, the rides go up two fold. It’s usually couples and families who take these rides,” he says.</p>.<p>Awareness was created among drivers about seeking help from the police if customers turned unruly.</p>.<p>“We told them to seek help from 112 in case of untoward incidents. We also told our drivers to double check with inebriated passengers about their drop points so that there were no last minute problems,” he says.</p>.<p>The drivers asked customers to come to less crowded junctions near their pickup point. “Church Street and Brigade Road are barricaded and closed on December 31. Customers walk towards Anil Kumble Circle, Trinity Circle or Brigade Road end (towards Residency Road),” he adds.</p>.<p>Ravi A, auto driver in Kammanahalli, says younger people stay indoors on January 1. “It is often families who step out for dinner and events on January 1. They are a safer crowd to deal with,” he says.</p>.<p><strong>Groceries and food</strong></p>.<p>Gig workers delivering food and household provisions concentrated on busy areas such as Koramangala and Indiranagar.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Raju, 27, usually delivers 30-35 grocery parcels, mostly around M G Road, on a regular day. “I plan to stick around Lavelle Road and Richmond Road, as they are less crowded compared to M G Road. Most people in these neighbourhoods don’t step out as they are aware of how chaotic things can get. So everyone uses apps for their needs,” he says.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year on New Year’s Eve, he managed to make 10 extra deliveries, and earn a little extra. “The surge charge adds to our income on days like this,” he says.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Food delivery agents in Indiranagar informally divided the locality into territories to manage their deliveries more efficiently. “We chose different parts of the neighbourhood so that everyone could get their orders quicker,” says Nanju Gowda, food delivery agent.</p>