‘Zero tolerance for zero night celebration’: Tight security measures in place ahead of New Year celebrations in Odisha

As Odisha gears up for New Year celebrations, stringent security measures are in place in the Twin City of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to ensure a safe transition into 2025. 

With just two days remaining until the New Year, authorities across major urban centres, including the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, have ramped up security for the zero night celebration. Public areas and popular destination spots, such as Puri, are under increased surveillance to avert any potential disturbances.

A ‘zero tolerance’ approach is being implemented by police, particularly concerning drunk driving offences with strict enforcement and night checking is expected to start from the evening of December 31, continuing into New Year’s Day.

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“Stern actions will be taken against drunk driving. Any kind of disturbance will not be tolerated. The sound of the loud music will be kept within the prescribed limit. Organisers have been given necessary instructions to ensure that the zero night will be celebrated in a disciplined manner,” said Twin City Police Commissioner S Debadatta Singh.

The Commissionerate Police has intensified patrolling within Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. They plan rigorous checks at bars, pubs and hotels, coordinating with the Excise Department to oversee celebrations. Security arrangements have been tightened by the Commissionerate Police ahead of the zero night celebration in the Twin City. A strict vigil will be kept on the road romeos. As many as eight platoons of forces will be deployed in Cuttack to ensure safety and security measures. 

Cuttack DCP has issued a stern warning that any disorderly conduct after midnight on New Year's Eve will be met with strict action.

“As many as eight platoon police forces will be deployed in the town to create a security environment on December 31 and January 1 and control the anti-socials,” said Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena.

Puri is expected to witness a surge of lakhs of devotees from across the country and the globe on the occasion of the New Year. Specific arrangements have been made by the temple administration to ensure an orderly divine darshan of Lord Jagannath in Srimandir. Barricades have been set up from the Srimandir Temple Administration office to Market Square to ensure smooth darshan of the devotees. For December 31 and January 1, specific traffic control measures have been put into place, allowing entry of the devotees only through the Singha Dwara (Lion’s Gate) while the other three gates will be utilised as exits. 

Special arrangements are in place to accommodate the elderly and differently-abled devotees. No vehicle zone has been announced from the Medical Square till Srimandir. Checking will be intensified at the main entrance point of the holy town. Parking arrangements for the vehicles coming from the Bhubaneswar side have been made at Jail Road. Additional lifeguards will also be present at beaches to ensure the safety of the tourists. Puri will witness 60 platoon forces assigned to maintain peace and order. 

“It’s our duty to ensure that lakhs of devotees across the globe will have hassle-free darshan of Lord Jagannath and we will fulfill our duty,” said Puri SP Vinit Agarwal.

“As the number of devotees has been increasing in Puri for the New Year, the temple administration has made elaborate arrangements for their smooth darshan, said Durga Dasmohapatra, a senior servitor.