The Hindu : New Delhi News : A festive New Year’s Eve in Delhi

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Thursday, Jan 01, 2009
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New Delhi

A festive New Year’s Eve in Delhi

Staff Reporter

– PHOTO: S. SUBRAMANIUM

NEW YEAR SPIRIT: The scene in Connaught Place, New Delhi, on New Year’s Eve.

NEW DELHI: In no mood to let security threats and economic slowdown get the better of them, Delhiites ushered in the New Year at midnight on Wednesday night with much revelry around the Capital’s glittering markets.

Wednesday being a holiday for most people, Connaught Place saw huge crowds comprising families and youngsters making the most of the evening by dining out and shopping.

However, with traffic restrictions coming into place after 7-30 p.m. and several shops downing their shutters early, the crowds started thinning out by late evening to avoid the inevitable traffic jams.

With colourful lights strung all over, many shops still retained a little of the Christmas spirit with tinsel and holly hung at the entrance along with signs of “Merry Christmas”.

The nearby Janpath market’s crowded lanes too buzzed with activity as young men and women went about with last-minute shopping to look their best on D-day. “Though I have already bought a new dress for the New Year’s party at my friend’s house, I came to Janpath to shop for accessories. Last year we went party-hopping to various pubs and night clubs, but this year we have decided to party at home,” said 22-year-old college student Isha Narang.

Groups of college students were also seen posing for photographs with each other and living up to the festive spirit on Wednesday evening. The normally bustling Rajiv Chowk metro railway station witnessed an overwhelming rush of passengers making their way in and out of CP.

The Central Park in the middle of Connaught Place that was targeted by terrorists during the serial bomb blasts on September 13 witnessed unprecedented security on New Year’s Eve with riot control vehicles and Rapid Action Force personnel along with armed policemen leaving nothing to chance. However, that did not stop the crowds from enjoying the grass and the open skies in the park with their families.

Traffic Police personnel had their hands full keeping cars away from parking on the main roads in and around Connaught Place. There were massive traffic jams on Rafi Marg after entry was barred on the roads leading up to Connaught Place and Janpath leaving many commuters inconvenienced.

Several Police Control Room vans were stationed at India Gate and surrounding roads which also saw heavy deployment of armed police.

Commenting on the chaotic traffic situation near Connaught Place, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) S. H. Shrivastava said: “When traffic restrictions are put in place, there is likely to be heavy traffic in some areas and people have to face difficulties. However, the traffic thins down and returns to normal after some time.”

While Connaught Place saw crowds enjoying themselves to the hilt, celebrations were subdued in many of the Capital’s leading five-star hotels with several of them cancelling their customary New Year bashes owing to the security threat in the wake of the recent Mumbai terror attacks.

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