Bengaluru all set to ring in the New Year; security measures in place

BENGALURU: The central business district (CBD), including M G Road and Brigade Road, are all set to ring in the New Year. The hotspot of the New Year revelry, Brigade Road has been decked up with colourful lights and is awaiting the crowds on Saturday night to herald the New Year.

The police will deploy special teams, called the orange army, on MG Road, Brigade Road and Church Street to ensure the safety of women and children. The team of about 75 personnel, sporting orange T-shirts will keep an eye on trouble-makers near pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants in the area.

CCTV cameras have been installed at vantage points.

The orange T-shirts will make them easily identifiable for those who may need any help. The team will work along with the pink army to ensure safety of women and children.

Meanwhile, the BMTC has decided to run more schedules till 2 am to help revellers reach home from the CBD and will deploy 13 additional buses.

From MG Road Metro station, the buses will run toward Sarjapur, Kengeri Housing Board quarters, Janapriya Township, Nelamangala, Yelahanka 5th Stage, Hedge Nagar, Bagalur, Hoskote, Channasandra, Banashankari and Kadugodi. From Brigade Road, the buses will run towards, Electronics City and Bannerghatta National Park.

Namma Metro too has announced that it will extend its services till 2 am on Sunday. The trains will be operated at a frequency of 15 minutes on both the purple and green lines.