Dikhyaa Mohanty 
On Tuesday, the Commissionerate Police released a number of directives concerning zero-night celebrations in Bhubaneswar’s hotels and bars. Following a meeting between police and hotel and bar owners, the guidelines were released. The police met today and talked with the proprietors of hotels and bars about their zero night plans and programs. The meeting was chaired by Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh.
Following the meeting, the police developed a set of rules to prevent any type of law and order issue during the zero-night festivities. The police state that hotel and bar owners are permitted to host New Year’s Eve celebrations up until 12:30 AM. Those who wish to celebrate past 1:30 a.m. must apply for special authorization. The zero-night celebration planners need to plan for increased parking and security. Additionally, they will monitor alcohol consumption in excess.
The hotel and bar owners have been asked to have extra drivers to drop drunk revellers at their homes. If required, the organisers will have an ambulance on standby. Moreover, the police asked the hoteliers and bar owners to refrain from allowing the use of any kind of drugs in their hotels and bars, or else action would be taken against them. Special police teams will be deployed at hotels. The police would also increase patrolling and block-checking at midnight to check drunk driving.
“The hotel and bar owners must follow the time limit set for the celebrations. They will have to make sure that the capacity of their venues doesn’t exceed the limit. They will also take care of the safety measures. They will get their CCTV cameras repaired. They have been instructed to have extra staff at their parking places to help their customers. They have also been asked to arrange for extra drivers to drop off drunk customers,” said Bhubaneswar DCP, Prateek Singh.
