2022 gets a chilly welcome

Usually packed with revellers, Marine Drive lay empty. Pic/Ashish Raje

Heavy deployment of police forces and stringent checking resulted in a quiet New Year's Eve in the city. Mumbai Police had set multiple nakabandi points at roads leading to popular spaces in South Mumbai. As per the appeal made by authorities, many citizens chose to celebrate at home resulting in hotels and restaurants also lying empty. This was gauged by the police action taken in the night - only 18 motorists were apprehended by traffic policemen for various offences, the lowest in the last five years.

Mumbai had reported 327 patients with the new Omicron variant on Saturday. As Covid-19 cases have been rising every day, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Police had urged citizens to remain indoors.

On New Year's Eve, Mumbai Police declared that no person will be allowed to gather at public spaces, including beaches, and promenades like Marine Drive and Worli. The Gateway of India and Marine Drive, which is usually packed with people, were also deserted. However, many families chose to venture out in their cars in South Mumbai. "Though the appeal has been made to avoid venturing out, many chose to roam in cars and bikes. The traffic we are witnessing is just like any other midnight. There is no gathering at places, but vehicular movement was as usual," said a traffic policeman on duty at Girgaum Chowpatty. Hotels, pubs and restaurants were given permission to operate till 1.30 am as usual but with only 50 per cent occupancy. "We expected some crowd as eateries were allowed to operate past midnight, but many remained indoors," said Pratap Bhosale, Senior Inspector of NM Joshi Police station.

Due to Covid-19 protocols, breathanalysers were not used this year as well. This resulted in the lowest number of drunk and drive action in the city. From December 31, 8 pm, till January 1, 8 am, only 18 motorists were booked for drunk and driving. In the year 2020, 35 motorists were booked for drunk and driving, while 408 were booked for driving without a helmet, 12 for rash driving and 16 bikers for riding triple seats.

Hemant Bavdhankar, senior Inspector of VP Road police station, was to retire on December 31, but at one o'clock in the night, he was seen working at the nakabandi with his team at Gol Deool in South Mumbai. He told mid-day, "While in the police department, I always considered duty to be the highest priority, and I am retiring keeping that in mind."