Tonight, On the eve of 2025, many will party the night away, but there are some who will be on duty keeping the National Capital safe. Meet the brave hearts who will stand in the chilling cold to help ensure that the celebrations go on safely.
“We do not consider this to be a conundrum at all, we are happy to serve the people so that they can celebrate the New Year without any problem and enjoy it to the fullest,” were the words of police officers who will ensure that security arrangements do not fall short and crime elements do not hamper celebrations of the common people on December 31st and January 1st.
Delhi Police remains on alert as people from its neighbouring states are also expected to come to Delhi for celebrations in large numbers. Delhi shares borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and lies close to Rajasthan. The traffic and local police personnel say they are neither worried nor frustration remains on their faces.
“If we think like that, we will never be able to solve people’s problems. There are army men doing duty in Siachen in minus degrees, Delhi is much better than that. So we don’t take it like that. I am happy that I am celebrating my New Year with my fellow officers on the ground helping others enjoy,” said a traffic police officer, who will be on a 12-hour shift from 8 pm to 8 am on December 31 and January 1.
Defence Colony Station House Officer Sunjay Sharma, who will be stationed at a picket near Ansal Plaza where thousands of youngsters come to celebrate New Year, said that police officers are prepared to serve their country and let go of their own personal desires. “We join duty understanding what our responsibilities will be. There is no question about any negative thoughts or feelings of being away from our families on such occasions,” he said, adding that there are common people who celebrate with them too by bringing them sweets, or clicking selfies with the police on duty.
Twentyseven-year-old Pratap, who is patrolling for the first time on the New Year, shared similar thoughts. “I can celebrate with my friends and families even after my duty hours. This is more important and I am looking forward to serving alongside my seniors,” he said.
While the festivities will be witnessed all over Delhi, districts like New Delhi, South and Southwest remain the most flocked area by tourists and residents alike. Local police are heightening deployment of personnel, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect any unlawful activity and roping in the traffic police to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
In New Delhi district, where Connaught Place/Connaught Circus, Khan Market, five-star hotels, including The Lalit, Imperial, Park, Royal Plaza, Shangri-La, Le Meridien, Taj Mahal, Taj Vivanta, Metropolitan, Claridges, Ashoka, Samrat, ITC Maurya, and Taj Palace, India Gate, ‘C’ Hexagon and Kartavya Path, temples and gurudwara are located, police will use ‘Ikshan’ vans which have Face Recognition System (FRS) cameras to identify any unwanted elements.
Ikshana is equipped with 360 degree cameras which are being monitored through AI operated software, which has the data of suspects who roam around in the crowd. “If they come in the sight of these cameras, “Ikshana” will immediately inform the police about it after which the “yodha” of the police will catch them,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla said.
In the South district, where elite clubs and bars are located along with the Saket select city walk mall, the police have roped in the traffic police to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles and avoid congestion, DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan said.
He added that around the mall lies a hospital and Sheraton hotel, which attracts many people during the New Year’s eve. “We have reduced the halting point, made limited numbers of entry/exit points and allotted designated places for commercial vehicles to keep the traffic flow around the area in check,” the DCP said, adding that a meeting with this regard was also held with the traffic police.
Alcometer, devices used to detect alcohol levels in drivers, will also be provided to the police to curb drink and driving.
A senior officer said that officers will also be given ‘shoulder lights’ which is a beacon mounted on the ground personnel’s shoulders and can be seen from a distance even in fog. “It will help people to approach the police, and also save the officer on duty from any accident due to the dark,” he said.
Police said two ambulances, two fire tenders, two jail vans, two teams of bomb disposal squad, 28 door frame metal detectors, two teams of SWAT, three teams of Parakram vehicles, 33 MPVs, 30 motorcycle-patrolling teams, 43 foot-patrolling teams, 29 border pickets, 30 vehicle-checking parties at parking lots, seven plain-cloth spotters and five arrest parties will be deployed in the busy New Delhi.
According to police, buses headed towards Connaught Place will be diverted, starting from 7 pm on December 31, and the exit gates of Rajiv Chowk Metro Station will be closed after 9 pm on December 31 to prevent overcrowding. Two doctors will be deployed in the area to conduct medical examinations of people driving under the influence of alcohol. An Excise inspector will be deployed for checking violations of Excise laws and prohibition regulations.
In Southwest Delhi, where Hauz Khas village is a popular party place, 27 designated checkpoints with barricades are established to regulate vehicular movement and ensure road safety while 35 key locations are identified for special security coverage.