New Delhi:
Delhiites may be getting ready for parties at the New Year's Eve, but elaborate security arrangements and traffic advisories issued by the Delhi Police could subdue the mood for a night out.
According to the advisory issued by the Delhi Traffic Police, no vehicle will be allowed after 7 pm towards Connaught Place in Central Delhi beyond Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg crossing, Bengali Market, and Chelmsford Road. Also, inner, middle and outer circles of Connaught Place will remain out of bounds for all vehicles.
However, the Traffic Police has provided alternate routes for North-South and East-West movement. For North-South movement, the advisory asks motorists to use Mathura Road-Ring Road-Bahadurshah Zafar. It also says that Mother Teresa Crescent Road-Rani Jhansi Marg will also be available for North-South movement. In order to travel from East to West, motorists are advised to use C Hexagon-Akbar Road-Mother Teresa Crescent-Park Street. The advisory also says that to reach New Delhi Railway station, people should use second entry gate of Ajmeri Gate side.
The advisory also says that traffic police personnel will be posted on all other main places where hotels, restaurants, markets and religious places are located to ensure that main roads are free for smooth flow of traffic. If anyone is caught for drunk driving, he/she may a fine of upto Rs 2000, suspension of driving license and may be given a jail term.
Three Metro stations in Central Delhi - Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk and Barakhamba Road - will be closed early, at 7:30 pm. The police have also planned strict punishment for reckless and drunk driving, the advisory says.
The advisory comes into effect a day after Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar met Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Mr Kumar was accompanied by Satyendra Garg, head of the Delhi Traffic Police.