The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Hotels seek extra hour after midnight

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Hotels seek extra hour after midnight

Sandhya Soman

Security managers hold meeting with the Police Commissioner The police have already given permission to nearly 20 hotels and clubs to organise a variety of events under Section 34 (public resort licence) of the City Police Act

CHENNAI: Order your last drink by 11 p.m., nurse it till midnight and it should be `Happy New Year' time.

Chennai is all set to ring in the New Year amidst tight police security with hotels, clubs and resorts in and around the city still negotiating with the police for an hour after midnight to allow celebrations by revellers.

"We cannot close down at 12 as the New Year dawns. That will be a joke," said Vikram Kota, general manager of Radisson GRT Hotel.

He said that a couple of days ago security managers of city hotels had a meeting with the Police Commissioner. "He asked us to ensure clean and healthy celebrations."

All that the hotels need to do is adhere to the liquor licence regulations when it comes to serving alcohol and avoid "obscene and noisy" events, said P. Chandra Sekar, security officer with Hotel Green Park.

The police have already given permission to nearly 20 hotels and clubs to organise a variety of events under Section 34 (public resort licence) of the City Police Act, according to a senior police official.

"We were given permission to hold a fashion show featuring models from Mumbai," said Mr. Chandra Sekar.

And if a guest is too drunk to drive home back, the hotels have been asked to try and keep the person from venturing out or provide transport, he added.

Mr. Kota said the police would also chip in with transporting too-drunk-to-drive revellers back home.

"They have also given a number to contact them in case of trouble-makers. We will also provide extra security at parking lots to avoid thefts," he said.

The hoteliers say they are ready but are still waiting for the police to grant more time after midnight.

"We have appealed to the Police Commissioner to give us some more time.

This is a once-a-year event and last year, because of the tsunami, there was hardly any celebrations," said Mr. Kota.

City Police Commissioner R. Nataraj said he was still going through the applications for permission to conduct events. "We might extend the time till 1 a.m.," he said.

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