New Year 2023: Security beefed up in Mumbai, special trains for revellers

As Mumbai gears up to ring in the new year without any Covid19 restrictions after two years the police on Saturday beefed up security across the city to prevent any untoward incident the PTI reportedTo ensure smooth travel for Mumbaikars on the New Years Eve the Railways and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking BEST have announced special services after midnight on December 31 as per the PTIAs part of the security arrangements 10000 police constables 1500 officers 25 deputy commissioners of police and seven additional commissioners of police have been deployed to maintain law and order an official told the PTIHe said 46 platoons of the state reserve police force SRPF three units of the riot control police and 15 quick response teams QRT are also deployedThe police are anticipating large gatherings near the Gateway of India Marine Drive Girgaum Chowpatty Juhu beach Bandstand in suburban Bandra and other prominent locations and security arrangements have been made accordingly the official saidWe have instructed the police stations to step up patrols and pickets deployment at crowded places and areas where citizens are likely to indulge in revelry Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar said reported the PTIThe Mumbai police will facilitate December 31 celebrations without compromising the safety and security of people he saidWe appeal to people to exercise due restraint and take care of children and women in places that witness high footfalls the police chief said adding that citizens can contact police control rooms for assistanceBesides the police personnel deployed for the occasion all senior police officers will be on the ground for bandobast duty he saidThe Western and Central railways will run eight and four additional local services respectively apart from the regular suburban services on their networks officials saidAlso Read Mumbai Mount Mary church in Bandra receives terror threat via email FIR lodgedAccording to the Western Railway four services from Churchgate to Virar and as many in the opposite direction will be operated from 1215 am onwardsOn the main line Central Railway officials said two extra services will be run between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CSMT and Kalyan each will start in opposite directions at 130 amSimilarly two extra services will run between CSMT and Panvel they saidStarting Saturday the Central Railway will operate two extra services of the iconic toy train between Matheran and Aman Lodge station beyond which vehicular movement is restricted on the hill station located 100 km from MumbaiThe BEST meanwhile will run 50 extra services twice the number it operated last year a release statedThe decision was taken considering the heavy rush of commuters a week before New Years EveIt will also operate overnight services of its opendeck doubledecker buses which are a tourist attraction on Saturday the BEST said appealing to commuters to use the service to witness the first sunrise of 2023The Government Railway Police RPF have beefed up security at railway stations and on suburban locals to avoid any untoward incidentAccording to a GRP release more than 6000 police personnel including senior police officials will be deployed on Mumbais suburban network on New Years Evewith PTI inputs