Mumbai News

New Year’s Eve celebrations amid night curfew: Mumbai Traffic Police issues road restrictions – Times of India

MUMBAI: Parking has been prohibited on some city streets from 12.01am on December 31 to 8am on January 1 by the Mumbai Traffic Police, in view of the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
* On both sides of Khan Abdul Gafar Khan Road, from Mela Junction to JK Kapoor Chowk in central Mumbai.
* On Mount Mary Road at Bandra from Mehboob Studio up to Mount Mary Church.
* On Pereira Road at Bandra from Pereira chowky to BJ Road.
* On Kane Road at Bandra from Mount Church up to BJ Road.
* On BJ Road at Bandra from Chimbai Road junction up to Hotel Taj Lands End.
* On Bandra-Worli Sea Link Road from Bandra railway bridge to Sea Link Toll Plaza.
Parking in south Mumbai has been prohibited from 7pm on December 31 to 6am on January 1 at Marine Drive (south-bound), Madame Cama Road, Veer Nariman Road, PJ Ramchandani Marg, Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, Adam Street, BEST Marg, Henry Road, Arthur Bunder Road, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg and Colaba Causeway (from Regal Cinema circle up to its junction with Arthur Bunder Road).
The north-bound arm of Marine Drive from NCPA to Girgaum Chowpatty and the south-bound arm of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg will be closed for all vehicles.
New Year revellers to stay indoors tonight, head for brunch tomorrow
Mumbaikars’ New Year Eve plans for Thursday night span two ends of the spectrum—either organise house parties or leave town altogether. After the state government extended the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions by a month on Wednesday, no more than five persons can head out as a group.
Mumbai police spokesperson S Chaitanya said the pandemic prohibitory Section 188 remains in force, so big parties and terrace parties are prohibited as there are chances of violation of social distancing. He added that neither is burning the effigy of ‘Old Man 2020’ permitted nor are fireworks.
Mumbaikars seem content to stay indoors rather than risk being out in the streets during night curfew. In Powai, bakeries ran out of pizza base Wednesday, hinting at the menu for the house party. Liquor sold briskly citywide.
Some groups will travel out of town. Pawan Sharma, a lawyer from Mulund, said, “We have a farmhouse in Karjat with good Wi-Fi so we friends will head out and party there till the weekend.”
Leading hotels like Taj Mahal Palace in Colaba, ITC Grand Central in Parel and The Leela in Andheri East, have organised festive buffet meals and a la carte menus although large-scale entertainment is missing. “If we have to be in business in 2021 it is better to pare down festivities this New Year. Who wants the state to lock us down for another six months,” said one manager.
Interestingly, hotels expect business to increase on January 1 even as it drops on New Year Eve. “More people will prefer a leisurely brunch on January 1 than a hurried December 31 dinner,” said another hotel manager. Some are offering rebates on New Year ‘daycations’ that include room access, meals and spa discounts.
The organisers of the Goa Sunburn music festival have gone digital. One hotel has organised a Sufi techno festival, another will stream music on Facebook and “convert homes into party zones”.
Meanwhile, churches have advanced their New Year ‘midnight’ mass. Gloria Church in Byculla and Victoria Church in Mahim will host vigil mass early around 7pm. Fr Frazer Mascarenhas of St Peter’s Church in Bandra, said, “Our New Year Vigil service is for a limited number of people who have been given passes. It will be live-streamed for the rest. It will end early so people can reach home before curfew.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/new-year-eve-celebrations-mumbai-traffic-police-issues-road-restrictions/articleshow/80038960.cms