Fire tragedy, BMC action force New Year revellers to scout for new locations

The Kamala Mills tragedy and subsequent crackdown on illegal structures by the city civic body have limited the options for many revellers who will be ringing in New Year in neighbouring Navi Mumbai or Thane instead of their preferred joints in the city.

Following the BMC’s demolition drive, revellers have been forced to cancel their plans to welcome New Year, leaving event managers with little time to make fresh arrangements. While some revellers will be welcoming 2018 in restaurants in Lonavala, some have decided to do so in Pune. Some party-goers will be celebrating in Navi Mumbai, Thane, or at farm houses located near Mumbai.

Navi Mumbai-based event manager Satish Lokhande said he was flooded with calls from party-goers whose bookings in Mumbai got cancelled. “I got some calls from friends and regular party-goers asking suggestions for new locations around Mumbai. Many changed their bookings to Navi Mumbai, Thane and Lonavala-based restaurants because their earlier bookings in Mumbai hotels got cancelled,” Lokhande said.

Lokhande said areas such as Khandala, Karjat and Nerul, which have of late emerged as major weekend destinations. “The facilities offered include farm-houses and resorts with large halls for such celebrations. A sizable number of party-goers organised parties in these areas in the last couple of days. The number of revellers in Mumbai could be less (this time) but many of them will be partying outside the city,” Lokhande added.

While some revellers will be welcoming 2018 in restaurants in Lonavala, some have decided to do so in Pune. Some partygoers will be celebrating in Navi Mumbai, Thane, or at farm houses located at areas such as Khandala, Karjat and Nerul, which have of late emerged as major weekend destinations