Delhiites to usher in New Year amid tight security

New Delhi: Pubs, restaurants, markets, malls and other popular hotspots in the city were all decked up for New Year celebrations even as security was beefed up and restrictions put in place to thwart any untoward incident.

Delhi Police is on a high alert after intelligence alerts were received of possible terror attack at two five-star hotels in the city and recent terror strikes at a café in Sydney, Australia, an army school in Peshawar, Pakistan and Bengluru blast.

SWAT teams have been stationed outside premier hotels while special measures were already in place to guard city schools. Elaborate security and traffic arrangements have also been made to ensure that celebrations are held peacefully as people started thronging shops at Connaught Place, the epicenter of celebrations in the city, the India Gate and other popular attractions since morning.

Barricades have been set up to check drunk driving and stunt biking.

The police will restrict entry into Connaught Place after 8:30 PM to prevent overcrowding of the British-era market towards night. It has also asked DMRC to stop entry and exit at Rajiv Chowk metro station after 9 PM.

However, interchange facility for Line-2 (HUDA City Centre - Jahangirpuri) and Line-3/4 (Dwarka Sec-21 -Noida City Centre/Vaishali) will be available as per usual timings.

"The entire central Delhi will be under heightened security and we will allow entry into CP only on the basis of invitations and area residents' ID cards. Strict vigil will also be kept to check stunt bikers and drunk driving. We have asked DMRC to shut down Rajeev Chowk Metro Station, we will monitor the situation and if needed, more stations can be shut," said a senior police official.

Some other areas of the city, considered as party hotspots like Saket, M-Block Market of Greater Kailash, Chirag Delhi, New Friends Colony, Defence Colony, South Extension, Mehrauli, Aya Nagar Border, Khanpur, Nehru Place near Eros Hotel, near Govindpuri Metro Station, Vasant Vihar among others have also been placed under tight vigil.