No crowded terrace parties, public places to shut at 11 — Delhi set for muted new year’s eve
India

No crowded terrace parties, public places to shut at 11 — Delhi set for muted new year’s eve

The Delhi Police has also issued guidelines warning strict action against violators and challans for those playing loud music after 10 pm.

   
Representational image of a restaurant. | Photo: WallpaperFlare

Representational image of a restaurant. | Photo: WallpaperFlare

New Delhi: With at least 20 passengers having tested positive for the fresh strain of Covid-19 from the UK, Delhi plans to ring in the new year in a guarded manner.

Besides reiterating the regular social distancing guidelines across restaurants and market areas, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government has issued fresh directions across districts to enhance community surveillance especially on new year’s eve. Resident Welfare Associations have also decided to give the community programmes a miss this year.

According to senior Delhi administration officials, it has been decided that no celebrations after 11 pm will be allowed at public places in Delhi on the night of 31 December. “Hotels and restaurants, however, might be excused,” said an official of the West district.

A senior Delhi government official said orders will be issued soon as this was discussed in the video conference meeting Wednesday evening.

Earlier on Wednesday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had directed all states and union territories to maintain a “strict vigil” and curb all potential “super spreader” events.

Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, in a letter, had, however, noted that states and UT will have leeway to impose local restrictions such as night curfew, depending on their own assessment of the situation.

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to the states & UTs | By special arrangement

No crowded terrace parties or public events in Delhi

The Delhi Police has warned against any public events or terrace parties beyond “permissible limit” being held on new year’s eve.

Police have issued detailed guidelines for new year eve parties in the national capital. The guidelines will not apply to the Ghaziabad-Noida (UP) and Faridabad-Gurgaon (Haryana) regions.

“We aren’t advocating any ban but Covid protocols need to be followed,” DCP South Atul Thakur told ThePrint. “As for parties, 50 per cent of the capacity of a place is the norm.”

Thakur further said action will be taken against those found violating norms, under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (six months jail or fine of Rs 1,000 or both), while challans will be issued against those found playing loud music after 10 pm.

To ease overcrowding on 31 December night, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is also taking measures to prevent overcrowding. In a statement to the media, it said that the exit from Rajiv Chowk Metro Station will be shut from 9 pm onwards Thursday.

“The entry of passengers, however, will be allowed until the departure of the last train from the station. Commuters are requested to plan their journey accordingly,” the statement read.

In neighbouring Noida, the police department has issued a statement restricting the number of people at parties to 100. “The maximum limit for the open spaces will be 50 per cent of total capacity, with all other arrangements such as thermal scanning, sanitisation, masks, social distancing required to be in place,” Commissioner of Police Alok Singh said.


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Delhi RWAs settle for guarded 31 December

Community programmes organised by resident welfare associations in Delhi have also been cancelled this year. Most RWA presidents that ThePrint spoke said as the events are mainly meant for senior citizens, it was in their interests to prohibit such gatherings.

“Our events anyway are meant for the elderly since the youngsters have their own plans and given the aged are more likely to contract the infection, there will be no celebrations this year,” Naren Bhiku Ram Jain of the Civil Lines RWA told ThePrint. “We would even sit together at each others’ lawns in Civil Lines, but this year even that won’t happen since everyone is scared.”

An RWA treasurer in South East Delhi said: “Residents have been asked to keep the celebrations a low-key affair at their homes with their near and dear ones to avoid chances of spreading the infection.”

Asif Kamal, general secretary of New Friends Colony, said given the large number of senior citizens in the area, no community programmes including the Diwali mela or new years’ eve functions were being held this year to protect them. Most likely, Lohri celebrations will also not be held this year, he added.

Limited reservations at restaurants

Restaurants and pubs also plan to play it safe this year. Many joints in Khan Market will not allow on-the-spot gatherings on 31 December and have opted for pre-bookings.

The Ashok’s Ophelia in Chanakyapuri is among the restaurants to bank on pre-bookings. “We don’t want to encourage on-counter sales as else keeping a headcount for 50 per cent of the allowed seats will be a task,” a marketing team official from The Ashok told ThePrint.

Other than this, people will be greeted with a temperature check and a hand sanitisation booth. “Restaurants have been asked to ensure guests are allotted tables with partition screens to facilitate proper social distancing,” said Riyaz Amlani, president, Delhi Restaurants Association.

“Masks must be worn at all times due to people coming in, except when they are seated at tables. Aarogya Setu app status check is compulsory,” said Mayank Bhatt, brand head, Social.

“Due to current circumstances, we also have a strong delivery first proposition such as munchies, combos, pre-mixers, social party starters since there will be a lot of house parties and intimate gatherings around this time.”


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