Planning house party to usher in New Year? Read up on rules and risks first

Mumbaikars are gearing up to welcome the New Year with many planning 31stnight parties on their building terraces However police have reminded citizens to obtain prior permission from local authorities to play music or risk facing legal consequencesAdvocates told midday that no NOC is required from the society committee to host a party but residents must take proper precautionsPolice have advised covering terrace corners with curtains if the edges are low to prevent accidents Meanwhile pubs bars and restaurants will remain open until 5 amAdvocate Sunil Pandey told midday ldquoTerrace parties are allowed and no permission is required as it is private property However many societies lock terraces and prohibit members from access which is against the law Only playing music requires permission from the local police station While individuals are free to celebrate on terraces they themselves must ensure safety as the individual will be held responsible for any incidentsrdquoPandey also a society secretary added ldquoIn my society we allow terrace parties but advise members to avoid disturbing others If someone files a noise complaint with the police the individual will bear the consequencesrdquoAdvocate Siddharth Chandrashekhar said ldquoThe terrace is a common area for society members and everyone has the right to use it for celebrations However members should ensure they donrsquot create a nuisance or disturb others If society committees lock the terrace and refuse access residents can file a complaint with the registrarrdquoThis year terrace parties with music are permitted until midnight provided decibel limits are followed After midnight parties can continue without music or disturbances Police will monitor terrace parties and venues where youth gatherings may lead to drug use or other unfortunate incidentsSpecial police teams will be deployed at popular hotspots like Juhu Versova Bandra Bandstand Worli Sea Face Marine Drive and Gorai Beach Beaches will remain operational as usualChallenges for terrace partiesIn Mumbairsquos suburban areas many societies have locked their terraces due to rising suicide cases and concerns over strangers such as delivery personnel or intruders gaining access Additionally society secretaries fear liability in case of incidentsA senior police officer said ldquoTerrace parties are allowed and we will keep a close watch on such gatherings Complaints will be dealt with strictlyrdquoCops on alertOn December 31 various public events will take place across Mumbai in hotels malls and other establishments To maintain law and order a comprehensive security plan has been implemented under the guidance of senior police officials5AMTime bar and pubs will be open till on New Yearrsquos EveThe deployment includes 8 Additional Commissioners 29 Deputy Commissioners 53 Assistant Commissioners 2184 police officers 12048 personnel including traffic staffAdditional measures include SRPF platoons QRT teams BDDS squads RCP units and home guards stationed at key locationsCheckpoints will be set up across Mumbai with special drives against drunk driving noise violations and public disturbances Strict legal action will be taken against offenders including those involved in misbehaviour illegal liquor sales and drug offencesCitizens are urged to follow the rules and celebrate responsiblyNo boat parties for New Yearrsquos EveThe Mumbai Port Trust MbPT has announced that no permissions have been granted for boat parties in the Arabian Sea on December 31 Officials clarified that this trend stopped around 2008 and the restriction remains in place ldquoThere are occasional applications for boat events throughout the year but December 31 is a strict no This year no applications have been receivedrdquo said an MbPT official A private operator explained that organising boat events requires multiple permissions including from the MbPT customs department and harbour police ldquoFor New Yearrsquos Eve no permissions of any kind are issued to anyonerdquo the operator addedRajendra B Aklekar