Bengaluru New Year’s Eve safety plan: 20,000 cops, AI surveillance, complete ban on firecrackers

• Bengaluru deploys 20,000 police and AI surveillance for New Year celebrations
• Firecrackers banned at event venues; strict guidelines for hotels and pubs
• Emergency button added to ride apps for women's safety on New Year's Eve

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Bengaluru will usher in 2026 under an unprecedented security blanket, with city police deploying advanced technology and stringent new protocols to ensure public safety. 
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar conducted a field inspection of the Indranagar area, a celebration hub in the city, to ensure security measures and crowd management.

The Bengaluru Police also posted on X and informed of a social media campaign called "Celebrate Responsibly", urging citizens to coordinate with the police during the New Year festivities.

The measures, which include a complete ban on firecrackers at event venues and the deployment of 20,000 personnel, follow enhanced safety reviews in the wake of a recent tragic incident at a pub in Goa.

In a significant escalation from previous years, surveillance will be conducted using artificial intelligence to analyse live footage from CCTV cameras across key party hubs, commercial stretches and residential areas.

Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh detailed the comprehensive plan, emphasising that the guidelines apply to all hotels, bars, pubs, restaurants and other venues hosting celebrations, with strict legal action promised for any violations, TOI reported.

A core focus of the security overhaul is the safety of women using app-based cabs and auto-rickshaws on New Year’s Eve. An emergency button has been integrated directly into ride-booking applications. “In case of an emergency, travellers can open the app and press ‘contact 112' option. Our staff at the command centre will connect with the caller and rush patrolling vehicles to the spot,” Commissioner Singh was quoted as saying by TOI.

Additionally, the public is encouraged to download the Karnataka State Police (KSP) app and use its ‘Safe Connect’ feature, which allows for direct video communication with police command centres. “Safe Connect allows users to communicate with our command centre through a live video call, helping us understand and respond to the situation more effectively,” Singh explained.

The Bengaluru City Police have issued a list of 19 detailed guidelines for event organisers and venues. Alongside the firecracker ban, other specific measures, form part of what officials describe as rigorously enforced enhanced safety protocols.

In a bid to promote public cooperation, the police launched an online campaign on December 22 encouraging citizens to celebrate responsibly. The massive police deployment, integrating both physical presence and technological monitoring, underscores the administration’s intent to prevent untoward incidents during the year-end festivities.