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Southern cities brace for New Year’s Eve with traffic curbs, crowd controls

Authorities across the southern metros have announced road closures, parking bans, and strict enforcement to ensure celebrations remain safe.

South First Desk

Published Dec 31, 2025 | 1:53 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 31, 2025 | 1:53 PM

Bengaluru's Brigade Road is notorious for its New Year revelry. Credit: iStock

Bengaluru's Brigade Road is notorious for its New Year revelry. Credit: iStock

Synopsis: Southern cities are tightening traffic rules for New Year’s Eve 2025–26. Chennai shuts beaches, Bengaluru bans vehicles in party hubs, Hyderabad closes flyovers, Kochi restricts Fort Kochi access, Thiruvananthapuram curbs busy junctions, and Visakhapatnam enforces flyover closures. Parking bans, drunk-driving checks, and crowd controls dominate. Meanwhile, extended public transport has been intensified with focus towards more orderly celebrations across the region.

Like the rest of the world, South India too is bracing for New Year revelries.

Keeping that in mind, major regional cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Visakhapatnam are rolling out sweeping traffic restrictions and safety measures to manage crowd surge expected on the intervening night of 31 December and 1 January.

Authorities across the southern metros have announced road closures, parking bans, and intensified enforcement to ensure celebrations remain safe and orderly.

Cities buckled up

Chennai

Marina and Elliots beaches will remain closed from 7 pm on 31 December to 6 am on 1 January, with Kamarajar Salai and adjoining stretches also off-limits. Over 25,000 police personnel will be deployed, focusing on drunk-driving checks and crowd control.

Bengaluru

Authorities are expecting over 10 lakh people to gather in various parts of Bengaluru for new year, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday, 28 January, said around 20,000 police personnel and officials will be deployed in the city.

“A crowd of approximately 7-8 lakh people had gathered in different places for New Year celebrations last year, this year more than 10 lakh people are expected,” Parameshwara said while speaking to reporters after a meeting with police officials. The police have identified crowd-prone areas such as — Koramangala, Indira Nagar, Central Business District (CBD), and Niladri Road– for NYE celebrations.

The deployment includes 14,000 personnel for Law and Order maintenance, 2,500 personnel for traffic management, 88 KSRP platoons, 21 City Armed Reserve (CAR) platoons, 250 cobra bike personnels among others, Parameshwara said.

Drone cameras along with CCTV cameras will be deployed for surveillance. “Security is also a major focus area, keeping in mind the recent Delhi blast, and necessary preventive measures are being taken, and a watch has been kept on the activities of anti social elements,” he added.

Additionally, for the first time, “heatmap” has been introduced in Bengaluru, which will identify places with large crowd in red and relay real-time information to the control or command centre to aid in crowd management.

Hyderabad

All flyovers, except Begumpet and Tolichowki, will be closed. The PVNR Expressway will remain open only for airport-bound passengers with valid tickets.

Tank Bund, NTR Marg, and PVNR Marg will be shut between 11 pm and 2 am, with hotels and pubs instructed to manage parking and security.

Kochi

Ernakulam district administration and Kochi City Police have tightened security and safety arrangements to ensure orderly New Year celebrations across the city, urging the public to strictly follow norms, especially in Fort Kochi and surrounding areas.

This year’s celebrations have been decentralised from the traditional Parade Ground in Fort Kochi to multiple venues, including Veli Ground in Fort Kochi, NGO Quarters in Thrikkakara, and events such as the Vypin Beach Fest.

Despite this, Fort Kochi alone is expected to witness a floating crowd of 2–3 lakh people on Wednesday night.

Around 1,200 police personnel, supported by senior officers, will be deployed for crowd control, traffic regulation, and public safety. Entry of vehicles into Fort Kochi will be restricted from the afternoon onwards, with parking allowed only at designated grounds. Once parking areas are filled, vehicles will be diverted back from Thoppumpady.

The carrying capacity of the main venue is under 50,000, while Veli Ground can accommodate up to 1.5 lakh people. Emergency medical services, drinking water, and toilet facilities will be in place. Multiple departments, including the Kochi Corporation, fire and safety, health, PWD, transport authorities, KSEB, and water authority, are coordinating the arrangements.

Public transport services will operate until 2.30 am to facilitate safe dispersal, and people have been advised not to rush out immediately after midnight. The entire celebration zone has been declared a no-drone area, and entry into beaches and backwaters after dark is prohibited. Besides, special caution has been advised for children.

Ro-Ro services between Vypin and Fort Kochi will stop by 4 pm, after which only pedestrians will be allowed. Water Metro and State Water Transport boats will operate only till 7 pm. Road access to Fort Kochi will be closed in the evening, the old Mattancherry bridge will function as one-way for outgoing traffic, and bus services will operate up to Cochin College ground.

Vehicles arriving via Vypin must park along the LNG Road near Kalamukku, with several parking grounds earmarked across Fort Kochi, Thoppumpady, and nearby areas.

Thiruvananthapuram

At the Kerala capital, the Thiruvananthapuram City Police has rolled out elaborate security arrangements across the city, anticipating a large turnout at celebration venues, beaches and public spaces, many of which are expected to be crowded with youth.

DIG and City Police Commissioner Thomson Jose IPS said as many as 1,200 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order at hotels, resorts, malls, restaurants, clubs and beaches where New Year programmes are being organised.

The police will conduct intensified patrolling and strict checks to prevent public drinking, disorderly conduct, drunken brawls and drug abuse. Raids will also be carried out against known offenders and anti-social elements involved in the sale of liquor and narcotics, with special focus on locations identified as trouble-prone.

To curb road accidents and violations, the police will enforce border sealing and vehicle inspections to prevent drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding, underage driving and stunt riding. Vehicles found violating rules will be seized, and driving licences may be suspended in serious cases.

Special male and female Mufti police teams will be deployed to monitor public spaces and arrest those harassing women and children.

Police pickets and patrols have been set up at major junctions, while beaches and tourist spots will be under heightened surveillance to prevent misbehaviour.

Night-time DJ parties and similar gatherings will be closely monitored, with particular attention to drug abuse and law-and-order violations. Cops have issued a series of directives to hotels, clubs and event organisers. Prior police permission is mandatory for organising DJ parties, and all indoor programmes must conclude by 12.30 am. Organisers will be held responsible for any illegal activity at their venues. Entry registers of guests must be maintained, CCTV cameras must be functional, and adequate lighting is mandatory at midnight in crowd-gathering areas.

Any untoward incident must be reported to the police immediately.

Noise pollution norms, as directed by the High Court, must be strictly followed. Failure to comply will result in seizure of equipment and legal action.

Persons with criminal backgrounds, whose details are shared in police lists, must not be allowed to attend or perform at DJ parties. Hotels and establishments have also been warned against engaging DJs with criminal antecedents, holding owners and management accountable for any offences during such events.

Security checks will be mandatory at entry points to prevent weapons from being brought into venues. Organisers must ensure unobstructed entry and exit routes, including special emergency pathways.

Fireworks displays require prior permission and must adhere to safety distances as per the PESO Act.

Temporary constructions at venues must undergo fitness inspections and receive clearance certificates. Water, electricity and fire brigade facilities must be ensured at all crowd-gathering locations.

In case of emergencies, the public can contact 112 for immediate police assistance.

In coastal areas, patrols by the Coastal Police and Coast Guard will be intensified, as residents often venture into the sea in boats with families during New Year’s Eve without adequate safety measures.

To prevent traffic congestion, vehicles are not allowed to be parked on main roads or side roads. Parking is permitted only in designated areas, and vehicle owners must display their phone numbers after parking. Vehicles causing obstruction will be removed using police recovery vehicles and legal action will follow.

Traffic-related complaints and suggestions can be reported at 9497987002 and 9497987001.

Given the expected crowds at Manaviyam Veedhi, barricades will be erected on both sides to regulate entry and exit. Everyone will be checked and videographed during entry and exit. Mufti police teams will patrol surrounding areas to curb drug trafficking and law-and-order issues.

Strict action will be taken against those misbehaving under the influence of alcohol. Vehicles involved in drunken or reckless driving will be seized and licence suspension proceedings initiated.

The City Police have appealed to the public to cooperate with the security measures to ensure peaceful celebrations, warning that stringent action will be taken against anyone violating the law.

Visakhapatnam

The Vemana Mandiram–DLO Junction flyover will be closed from 8 pm to 5 am, while the Park Hotel Junction to NTR Statue stretch will also be off-limits. Vehicles heading to Sampath Vinayaka Temple must park in single lines without obstruction. Police have warned against drunk driving, obscenity, drugs, and loud music.

Common measures in place

Across all cities, drunk-driving checks, parking bans, and flyover closures are being strictly enforced. Public transport extensions in Bengaluru and Kochi aim to ease movement, while police forces across the region are on high alert to prevent stampedes and ensure orderly celebrations.

Authorities have urged citizens to cooperate with restrictions, stressing that the measures are designed to safeguard lives while allowing festive spirit to thrive.

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