Bengaluru: New Year’s Eve in Bengaluru is marked by high revelry, followed by the inevitable low of trying to find transport back home. Booking a cab is an expensive prospect and hundreds of party goers found themselves stranded in HAL, Marathahalli, Whitefield and Kadugodi. The situation seemed bleak. Soon, a ray of hope arrived — the Bengaluru police played Good Samaritan on the night of January 1, escorting hundreds of people home in police patrol vehicles! Nearly 200 people were dropped at their homes in Whitefield and surrounding areas, in a police effort that lasted till the break of dawn.
Abdul Ahad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Whitefield division told Deccan Chronicle, “We received information from our police personnel patrolling the streets, about people were not able to hail cabs as there were a very limited number available. So, we spoke to the Commissioner of Police and explained the situation to him, requesting for permission to use patrolling vehicles to drop the public home. He immediately gave us the go-ahead.”
The information was passed on to ground staff, who began approaching people asking if they wanted a ride home. Around 80 patrolling vehicles were in the Whitefield division and 30 were assigned to drive people back home. “We directed officials on ground to give first preference to women, children and senior citizens,” said DCP Ahad.
Another senior police officer expressed surprise by the absence of cabs. “It was late at night and they had no way of getting home. We wanted everyone to be safe and this was our solution. We approached people standing near malls, pubs, restaurants and other laces and asked them if they wanted our services. They were surprised, but they quickly hopped into the patrolling vehicles and enjoyed the drive!”
The public were quick to show their appreciation and lauded the efforts of the Bengaluru City police. Amar Kumar and his family, who were dropped to Kadugodi were excited to have the police were dropping them back home.
“It is a warm gesture by the police who give their time to safeguard us. If it hadn't been for their timely, welcoming presence, we would have to risk walking several kilometres to get home. They have earned our utmost respect.”
