Hyderabad, December 31: With the Telangana agitation casting a shadow on Hyderabad’s preparations to welcome 2010 with gusto, the hotels and event organisers who have already spent a lot of money on the arrangements have been pushed into a great dilemma – whether to drop the plans altogether and silently suffer the loss and discontent of the clientele or take some risk and go ahead with the parties and keep the resolute revellers happy.
The party animals, on the other hand, seem to be modifying their plans to keep their revelry going.
Hyderabadis are highly enthusiastic when it comes to partying, and they love to do it on all happy occasions, especially the New Year. With a wide variety of packages on offer this season, it’s really hard for them to not get tempted, says the manager of a popular restaurant who has been following the party scene in the city for some years now.
In spite of police openly announcing their support and security to New Year parties, representatives of the hotel industry want to extract a personal assurance from the police top brass to go ahead with their events. According to Reji Corbett of the Fortune Select Manohar, “The HRAAP (Hotels and Restaurants Association of AP) will be meeting the Commissioner of Police seeking extra security cover for the city.”
In addition to police protection, the organisers are also making their own arrangements to beef up security. Says Mohan Reddy of Ten Downing Street, “The party will be as usual but with high security.”
“Hyderabad will want to celebrate the party, Bottles & Chimney will be open and will provide the maximum security to the patrons on our premises. If the authorities decide to call off the party then we will abide by the law,” says Sanjeev Mehta of the pub.
The Taj Group officials say, “As of now the party is on and it will be as planned. The entries are pretty encouraging.”
Green Park managers too say the party is on, but the bookings have not quite picked up probably reflecting the current scenario.
Party-goers, meanwhile, seem to have tweaked their plans. “I would prefer to stay back in the Novotel hotel after the celebration rather than risk a return trip home with my wife and children at a late hour,” says Rajesh from Sainikpuri. For MNC staffers Tamoli Das and Pavan the New Year’s Eve is a much-awaited occasion that should be celebrated keeping political issues aside. They plan to go to the venues close to their homes to avoid any trouble.
The New Year’s Eve is an occasion for everyone, whether from Telangana, Andhra or outside the State, to forget the hardships that they have gone through and welcome another year with hopes and wishes, seems to be the word of the man in the street.
——Agencies