Even as Bengaluru prepares to ring in the New Year 2026, the city’s traffic police have issued several restrictions and diversions to streamline the massive crowd expected to take part in the New Year’s Eve festivities and avoid any untoward incidents.
With authorities expecting a massive participation of more than 10 million people this year, extensive crowd control and security measures have been put in place at high footfall zones such as MG Road, Brigade Road, Indiranagar, Koramangala and Mall of Asia and Orion Mall roads.
While the state government has deployed nearly 20,000 policemen across Bengaluru, the police have also introduced a heat map system for the first time to monitor crowd density.
Traffic curbs and warnings
1. MG Road and Brigade Road
Traffic Restrictions (8pm to 3am): MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Residency road, Museum Road, Rest House Road
Route Diversion Points: Anil Kumble Circle, Cubbon Road, Trinity Circle, India Garage, ASC Center
Parking Prohibitions (4pm to 3am): MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Rest House Road, Museum Road, Residency Road
Where to park: Kamaraj Road, Shivajinagar BMTC Shopping Complex 1st Floor, UB City, Garuda Mall
Pedestrians will be allowed to walk only on Brigade Road from MG Road Junction towards Opera Junction. Driving in the opposite direction is prohibited.
2. YD Math Road, a memory
Traffic Restriction: YD Math Road up to Microland Junction, minor roads like JNC Road, 4th B Cross Road, Tonic Back Road, 17th H Main Road.
Route Diversion Points: UCO Bank Junction, Chowdeshwari Temple Junction, Sukhsagar Junction
No Parking: 80 Feet Road, Someshwara Temple Road
Where to park: BBMP Ground opposite Munireddy Kalyana Mantap, BBMP Ground next to Bethany School, 60 feet model road on left
3. Mall of Asia, Orion Mall and other places
Parking Prohibitions: Batarayanapura Service Road (Kodigehalli Signal before Mall of Asia to Alasandra Junction), Dr. Rajkumar Road (Navarang Signal before Orion Mall to Soap Factory), West of Chord Road (Shell Petrol Bunk to Rajajinagar 1st Block)
4. Indiranagar
Parking Prohibitions (Both Sides): Indira Nagar Road 100 Feet to Old Madras Road Junction A, Domlur Flyover Junction, Indira Nagar 12th Main Road, ITPL Main Road B, Narayanpur Shell Petrol Bunk, Garudacharpalya Decathlon, Hoodi Metro Station to Graphite India Junction, ITPL Big Road from Mediarcover Hospital
Other enforcement measures
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10 drones, 249 cobra vehicles and 400 traffic wardens to ensure a safe and orderly New Year’s Eve.
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166 Drink and Drive checkpoints across the city.
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92 locations for detailed monitoring to prevent wheeling, stunt driving and reckless driving.
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At night, 50 flyovers were closed to regulate traffic and prevent speeding.
Extended metro services
To facilitate safe and comfortable travel for tourists, services on the Purple, Green and Yellow lines will operate until late at night on January 1, 2026.
Purple line
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Whitefield to Challaghat: Last train at 1.45am
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Challaghatta to Whitefield: Last train at 2am
Green line
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Madavara to Silk Institute: Last train at 2 am
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Silk Institute to Madavara: Last train at 2 am
Yellow line
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RV Road to Bommasandra: Last train at 3.10 am
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Bommasandra to RV Road: Last train at 1.30am
Trains will run on the purple and green lines at eight-minute intervals and on the yellow line at 15-minute intervals from 1:30 pm on December 31 till the end of the extended service, according to BMRCL.
MG Road tube station will be closed from 10pm, but trains will stop at adjacent Trinity and Cubbon Park stations to board and alight passengers. While token sales stop at Trinity and Cubbon Park after 11pm, passengers can purchase tickets in advance or use QR tickets or smart cards with sufficient balance.
Special bus service
Meanwhile, special BMTC services will operate between 11pm on December 31 and 2am on January 1 from MG Road and Brigade Road to various parts of the city.
The special buses will depart from MG Road and Brigade Road metro stations and connect to destinations including Electronics City, Jigani, Sarjapura, Kengeri KHB Quarters, Janapriya Township, Nelamangala, Yelahanka (including Stage 5), Bagalur, Hosakote, Channasandra, Kadugodi, Banashankara Silangala, Central Both G-series buses and regular buses have been earmarked to cover these corridors.
Published – 31 Dec 2025 12:53 IST
