Residents of the Union Territory and tourists, both Indian and foreign, here were gearing up to welcome 2013 with grand celebrations on Monday evening. Most of the guest houses and hotels were full, and youth and tourists rushed through the busy streets preparing for revelries ahead of the New Year eve, on Sunday.
Police were taking steps to deal with trouble makers and drunk driving during the new year celebrations on Monday night, said SP (North) S Ramaraj here on Sunday. Stern action would be taken against those who disturb women and foreigners while the celebrations, he warned.
Explaining the bandobust on the eve of New Year, Ramaraj said that more than 300 cops would be deployed at the beach front, other key junctions and places where people were expected to congregate.
Cautioning against breaking of bottles on roads and drunk driving, Ramaraj said that cases would be registered against such acts. He added that the timings of liquor shops would remain the same, but hotels that had applied for special permissions would be allowed to function up to a specified time after midnight. He urged the public to report any anti-social activities.
A clear day, which witnessed bright sunlight after two cloudy days, stirred up the memories of last year’s Cyclone Thane that made a landfall on December 30 last year. The havoc wreaked by Thane had put an end to last year’s celebrations.