Bengaluru gets into New Year mode

Bengaluru: The party is just about to begin for Bengaluru's new year revellers. Hotels, discotheques, fancy bars and various restaurants catering to all sections of society are set to stay open beyond midnight to usher in the New Year. Various parties have been organised and are being advertised, especially in 3 and 5 star hotels.

Bollywood nights, DJ sets, masquerade parties are all being set up for city’s party-hoppers. With the police  permitting establishments to stay open till 2 am on  January 1, the city’s party animals could not have asked for more.
A spokeswoman from ‘Sutra’ lounge situated in Lalit Ashok Hotel told Deccan Chronicle, “We are holding a Bollywood themed party. A single ticket for a stag would cost around Rs 5,000, Rs 6,000 for couples and Rs 4,000 for a single woman entry.”

Taking advantage of the fact that December 31 falls on a Saturday, Girish from ‘The Warehouse Bar and Pub’ informed Deccan Chronicle, “The police have given us permission to stay open till 2 am and we hope to extract maximum from the given extension.”

A Chancery Pavilion spokesperson said that despite the cops setting 2 am deadline, most of the hotels have decided to stop their parties by 1 am. “We are holding a massive party to usher in the New Year. All food and beverages are inclusive of the entry fees. We plan to go on till 1 am despite the police giving us a deadline extension of 2 am."

Police too are doing their bit to ensure that New Year’s Eve passes of without a hitch. They want to ensure people don’t drink and take to the roads. Additional Commissioner of Police (West), Mr. K.S.R Charan Reddy told Deccan Chronicle, “We have taken additional measures to ensure that New Year’s Eve passes without a hitch. The deadline has been extended till 2.am to ensure people get to enjoy. But they must also be responsible.”

Traffic police are preparing to set up check posts and clamp down on drunken driving. According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Hitendra, “We will be checking vehicles up to 5 am on January 1 to ensure people don’t drink and drive. We will set up check posts at vital junctions to ensure drunk drivers don't get away.”