Chennai: The City Police has made elaborate arrangements to handle traffic and crowd during New Year celebrations, as the Marina and Elliots beaches will attract thousands of people. Over one lakh policemen will be deployed across Tamilnadu including 15,000 cops in Chennai to maintain vigil.
In order to regulate traffic and ensure smooth flow of public vehicles, the city police has made several traffic arrangements too. Public places such as Marina Beach, Elliots beach, city malls, recreational centres, shopping hubs like T Nagar and Sowcarpet, places of worship, vital installations will have elaborate security arrangements.
Sources say that all establishments having New Year events should install CCTV cameras on their premises. Police personnel have advised all hotels and clubs to check vehicles thoroughly before letting them in.
Installing CCTV cameras has been made mandatory at entrances and a record of vehicles entering the premises should be maintained. Police have advised hotel managements to avoid parking cars on roads. Police will take action against those selling alcohol after 1 am.
The hotels have been asked to close the swimming pools, if the hotel cannot close it, then they can have security guards to keep visitors away from it.
The party venues are not supposed to be held near a pool and organisers have been asked not to build a stage over the pool.
All vehicles proceeding to ECR Road will be thoroughly checked. There are several resorts on Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai on ECR Road where gala parties have been organised for New Year eve.
Barricades have been set up at many places on the stretch. Women police too have been deployed at places where women gather in large numbers to celebrate New Year. They will be making use of CCTV cameras, drones and watch towers at place large crowds are expected.
Patrol teams and special squads will give special attention to women and minors, a police source said. Checkposts have been set up to check vehicles entering from other States. Those who indulge in eve-teasing women in the pretext of celebrations will be punished severely, said a police officer.
Anticipating a large women crowd on Marina beach, the police also have planned to conduct awareness campaign about Kavalan SOS mobile phone application. At Marina and Elliots Beach, policemen have set up temporary shelters to monitor celebrations.
Special arrangements
On 1 January, tourists visiting Chennai can go on city tour at just Rs 10 per person, announced the Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC).
Fifteen buses from TTDC head office in Chepauk would go to Island Grounds, Marina beach, Vivekananda House, Ice House, Velankanni shrine in Besant Nagar, Ashtalakshmi temple, Arupadai Murugan temple, Guindy Children’s Park, and then back to the Tourism department office.
The buses will start at 9 am and will return at 6 pm. The most convenient aspect is that the tourists can board and alight the buses at any point.
Meanwhile, the Metro Rail will extend services till 1 am on Wednesday.