Special lady squad, PCR units formed to ensure women’s safety during New Year’s eve

The advisory warns that those drinking liquor at public places, creating noise pollution through exhaust of vehicles and indulging in hooliganism shall be dealt with strictly. (file)

The Chandigarh Police has announced special security measures for New Year’s eve celebrations on December 31 with a particular focus on women’s safety. At the forefront of these arrangements is the deployment of a special lady squad comprising 20 women police personnel, equipped with vehicles, to ensure law and order in sensitive areas such as pubs, malls, and busy markets. This will also assist the women in distress on the eve of New Year in Chandigarh.

In addition, lady staff PCR vehicles will be stationed at seven designated locations across the city to provide pick-and-drop assistance to women, offering secure transportation and quick response in case of a need during the festivities.

The police have detailed a comprehensive plan to maintain law and order across Chandigarh. A force of 1,000 personnel, excluding traffic and PCR staff, will be on duty, supported by 12 gazetted officers, 20 inspectors, and 16 SHOs. Security will be reinforced through 18 outer nakas, 44 internal nakas, and 16 joint traffic nakas. To aid visibility and safety, six “Aska lights” will be installed, while fire tenders will be positioned at five locations and three hydraulic ladders kept ready for emergencies.

The Central Reserve Force will also be deployed at Police Headquarters in Sector 9 to support the city’s security framework. The Chandigarh Police emphasised that these measures are aimed at ensuring safe and orderly celebrations, with particular attention to women’s safety and public convenience during one of the busiest nights of the year.

The Chandigarh Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory and listed several roads as a restricted vehicle zone on December 31 from 9:30 pm till 2 am on January 1. Apart from the inner market roads of Sectors 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 22, the restricted zones will include Aroma light point to small chowk in Sector 22 near dispensary and around Elante Mall.

Residents whose houses are accessed from the above road stretches will be required to carry a valid identity card and residence proof to facilitate their movement. Further, traffic will be regulated in a one-way system around Elante Mall, Industrial Area Phase 1.

The Chandigarh Traffic Police will conduct a special drive against traffic violations in the city on the eve of the New Year, and strict legal action shall be taken against violators and their driving licenses may be suspended.