Hotspots under scanner ahead of New Year’s Eve

Times News NetworkPolice have rolled out extensive, multi-layered security arrangements across the city, with special focus on East Coast Road (ECR), beaches, leisure hubs, hotels, pubs, restaurants, and beach resorts to ensure incident-free New Year celebrations. About 19,000 police officers comprising inspectors, sub-inspectors, constables, armed officers, Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP) personnel, and around 1,500 Home Guards are to be deployed. Security has been intensified at beaches, places of worship, major roads, and public gathering points which are expected to see heavy footfall.
Bursting firecrackers is prohibited in public and residential areas. Permission from police and other departments is mandatory for organizing New Year celebrations and using loudspeakers in apartment complexes and residential neighbourhoods. Strict action will be taken against violators.From 9pm on Dec 31, vehicle checks and surveillance will be carried out at 425 locations across all 12 police districts. Traffic on Kamarajar Salai will be closed from War Memorial to Lighthouse, and Foreshore Estate Loop Road will remain closed to vehicles on Dec 31 evening and Jan 1. Also, 25 flyovers will be closed to public during the period. Public entry into the sea will be prohibited from evening of Dec 31 until Jan 1.Traffic police are utilizing automated number plate recognition (ANPR) and CCTV cameras to detect violations under the Motor Vehicles Act and generate challans. Enforcement will be intensified against offences such as drunk driving, overspeeding, rash and dangerous driving, triple riding, riding without protective headgear and tampered silencers. Measures are in place to ensure the safety of women and children at govt-approved events, with instructions that kids not be allowed in areas where alcohol is served.Coastal areas including Marina, Santhome, Elliot's Beach, and Neelankarai will be monitored using mounted police, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), drone cameras, and temporary police assistance booths. The Coastal Security Group and Marina beach anti-drowning unit will work in coordination with police. Police teams trained in sea rescue will patrol the shoreline.To prevent dangerous two-wheeler racing, 30 surveillance teams have been deployed along vulnerable stretches such as Guindy, Adyar, Taramani, Neelankarai, Thoraipakkam, Maduravoyal Bypass Road, and GST Road. Road safety teams on two-wheelers will patrol to spread awareness, assist motorists, and respond to emergencies.Barricades and policing were strengthened to curb drunk driving, racing, and traffic violations. Police will deal with violators by detaining them, impounding vehicles, and imposing spot fines.In Tambaram commissionerate, coastal areas, including Panaiyur and Kovalam beaches, will remain under surveillance. Temporary police assistance booths, help-centre tents, warning boards, drone monitoring, ambulance services, and signboards will be installed at key spots. In the Tambaram jurisdiction alone, 2,500 police personnel and 260 Home Guards have been pressed into bandobust duty.