As Bengaluru gets ready to welcome the New Year, the city police have chalked out a thorough plan to keep everyone secure during the celebrations, targeting busy spots and putting extra focus on women and young adults.
A press note from the commissioner of police outlined steps to handle large crowds safely, with popular zones like areas near MG Road, Koramangala, Indiranagar, Whitefield, Neeladri Road, Electronic City, and malls expected to see heavy crowds on New Year’s Eve.
The security measures include watch tower stands at key spots for better monitoring from above, umbrellas that mark safe zones, help with weather issues, and women’s help desks that offer quick support.
Drunk driving and reckless stunts will face strict penalties. Venues will have limited entry to match capacity, with controlled doors to stop overcrowding.
Some roads will restrict vehicles for smoother flow. Metro and bus schedules will be adjusted to ease crowd movement and cut delays. New tech tools will be used to boost tracking and safety checks.
Quick response teams (QRT) will stay ready. Help desks for women will sit at main points. More women officers will patrol and respond. Safe zones and clear paths will lead to exits and transport. Quick response teams will be assigned to handle harassment reports right away.
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The public has been asked to strictly follow capacity rules for vehicles. Pub and bar owners have been urged to help limit heavy drinking in public.
About 20,000 police personnel will be guarding the city. Resources include four police control rooms, 78 watch towers, 164 women’s help desks, 55 ambulances, and 37 fire tenders.
The civil police include 10,122 personnel, and the traffic police 2,436. Karnataka Special Reserve Police platoons bring 88 units or 1,936 personnel. Car platoons have 21 teams, or 168 members. Home guards count 3,341, civil defence 916. Traffic wardens stand at 400. Special police units like C-Swat (4), QRT (3), water jets (2), Hoysala (246), and Cobras (249) complete the lineup to keep the city safe.
Senior officers have inspected sites with partners for full readiness. There will be nonstop CCTV surveillance, with a “magic box” to record and act on bad behaviour fast.
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Uthara S Nair is an intern with The Indian Express, Bengaluru.