If you planned to welcome New Year on the floor of a hotel in Mumbai, leaving behind the traumatised days following the terror strikes, then get ready for unprecedented security checks at various hotels.
Hotels across the city look like fortresses with cars being checked, patrons being frisked and identity cards being asked at regular intervals, thanks to the various security measures adopted after the November 26 terror strikes.
"Those attending the New Year celebrations will not be allowed if they don't carry invitation cards. Before getting on the floor, they need to pass all the security measures.
There won't be any compromise," said a security officer of a hotel in western suburbs.
"The patrons are asked to park their vehicles at the place where barricading has been done. From there the patrons will be escorted to the hotel in the vehicles belonging to the hotel as we don't want to cause any inconvenience to our guests. At the same time we don't want to compromise on security," a security person at Taj Land's End in Bandra said.
"Following the terror strikes, security has been beefed up at the hotel. The guests will have to show identity cards while entering the hotel. There is a speed breaker, which will scan the underside of vehicles on entry," said an official of J W Marriott hotel, Juhu.
"Guests will have to pass through metal detectors. Bags will be scanned," the official said.
"World's top-most security personnel have been appointed for security checks," said a spokesperson of Trident in south Mumbai declining to reveal further details.
The Mumbai police have welcomed the measures adopted by the hotels. "The hotels' initiative will surely benefit all," said DCP Vishwas Nangre-Patil.
