Delhi Police tighten security on New Year's eve

The national capital has been put under a tight security cover to ensure safe New Year celebrations, the police said on Thursday.

The police will be keeping an eye on crowded places, markets, bus stations, railway stations and other specific locations in the city to avoid any untoward incident.

Police check-posts and border posts have been asked to do stringent checking of vehicles entering and moving within the city. Barricades have been set up across the city and traffic police officials have been deployed in adequate strength everywhere.

The police said they would keep a vigilant eye outside restaurants, hotels, pubs, farmhouses and other public places where people are expected to gather to celebrate the New Year.

"Delhi traffic police have made elaborate arrangements throughout the city for the smooth flow and regulation of traffic on the eve of the New TYear. Special arrangements have been made for the areas in the vicinity of Connaught Place," Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander said.

"A restriction has been imposed on all private and public transport vehicles from 8.30 p.m. until the conclusion of New Year celebrations in the vicinity of Connaught Place," he said.

Traffic diversions will be made in Saket, Greater Kailash market, Chirag Delhi, New Friends Colony, Defence Colony, and Mehrauli.

Traffic police officials have also been deployed at various places to check and take action against cases of drunken driving.

"There will be intense checking for preventing drunken driving in Delhi," a police official said.

"In cases of overspeeding, red light jumping, carrying persons in goods carriage, driving under the influence of drink and drugs, and using mobile phone while driving a vehicle, the driving licence of the violator will be suspended for not less than three months," the official said.

Several mock security drills were conducted at various places in the city with two big shopping malls getting evacuated late Wednesday night.

The police official said the shopping malls were evacuated along with other major market areas such as Connaught Place and Palika Bazar to assess the security arrangements and preparations ahead of New Year's celebrations.