Bars and pubs in CBD might shut early this New Year’s Eve

BENGALURU: While Mumbai’s home department has issued a notification allowing hotels, bars and pubs to host New Year Eve parties till 5am, the scene in Bengaluru’s CBD could be much sober. City cops, who are in talks with traders’ association on MG Road and surrounding areas, are requesting them to shut down bars and pubs an hour before the usual deadline.Cops say such a move will ensure people don’t assemble at one place during the revelry, but keep moving.
A senior cop, who is in charge of security arrangements, said measures such as this are meant to ensure safety of women and avoid untoward incidents during New Year celebrations. Cops, so far, have had several meetings with traders’ associations in the central business district (CBD). While the associations aren’t yet commenting on the proposal to shut shop early, they are happy that the police department is taking steps to ensure better security.
"Police are being been extremely cooperative and making all possible efforts to ensure a safe yet joyous start to 2018. The department arranged for two meetings with Church Street Occupants Association, MG Road Traders Association and Brigade Road Shops and Establishments Association and sought suggestions on measures to be taken to ensure safety on these streets on the night of December 31. Several suggestions were discussed thoroughly and the department will come out with the final list of measures soon," said Irfan Noor, secretary, Church Street Occupants Association.
"While we have got suggestions like blocking footpaths and other roads and having the crowd move only on the main stretch of MG Road, the police department and other associations suggested bars and pubs shut a little early, may be an hour before the usual closure time. Cops might also to do an individual body count of all visitors to MG Road on the eve of New Year. This will help avoid untoward incidents and keep the crowd moving," he said.
"We also suggested deploying more cops and patrol vehicles on roads to monitor the crowd and additional CCTVs to capture unruly activities," he added.