Travelling to party hotspots on New Year may cost you dear

The intervening night of December 31 and January 1 is just a few hours away and everybody is gearing up for the celebrations. However, there is a little dampener for Delhi-NCR residents planning to welcome the New Year travelling to farmhouses and organising lavish parties and get-togethers. The reason: At 8 am on January 1, the Delhi government’s unique odd-even scheme will come into effect. 

The party enthusiasts, who throng in large numbers in clubs, discos, resorts, farm houses, hotels, etc are in a dilemma as the government agencies have no separate plan for this particular occasion. The agencies have announced to put all their efforts to make the formula a success while they are yet to chalk out a plan for the city as well as outside visitors who assemble in the Capital to make the day unforgettable.

Fearing chaos due to the odd-even formula and prosecution on large scales for violating the norms, a section of party-goers may stay away from the restricted region. Secondly, a majority of visitors, coming from the outskirts of the Capital, NCR cities and neighbouring states are likely to skip the occasion as their vehicles, bearing even numbers, will be barred on January 1 while vehicles, bearing odd numbers, will be barred the next day. Coincidentally, relaxation in odd-even hours is between 8 pm to 8 am which matches with the celebration hours and there are lesser possibilities that the visitors will choose these hours to go back home. “There is no specific plan for the New Year eve and for the next day. The authorities have neither updated nor restricted. From our side, we are well-prepared to follow the rule. Before ferrying people and allowing entry of vehicles, we will inform them about the odd-even formula. Those who have private vehicles can come at their own risk,” said an office bearer from a Delhi-based transport workers’ federation.

The officials of the government departments and the law enforcement agency, too, are accepting the lack of planning for the occasion which witnesses huge footfall every year. “The agencies are concerned about the success of the formula and if required they will work on an elaborate plan for the intervening night and January 1 but for now there is no such plan on the cards,” said an official.

Like earlier, people have booked large number of resorts, farm houses, hotels in Delhi and NCR. People come here to enjoy New Year eve at Connaught Place (CP), visit clubs, discos, pubs and bars during the intervening night, spend hours roaming in the city, gather at India Gate during the evening hours. A few of them prefer to enjoy staying at resorts for a couple of days or more.

“As the authorities restrict entry of vehicles in CP’s inner circle after 8 pm, people have no choice other than abstaining themselves from celebrating. On one side there will be odd-even hours and just after that entry of vehicles will be restricted,” said a party enthusiast.