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Crowd safety measures in Little India & Geylang for Deepavali period
Visitors should also expect crowds and heavy traffic.
October 28, 2024, 06:59 PM
Visiting Little India during the Deepavali period this week?
Do take note of crowd safety measures in place from Oct. 30, 2024 (Wednesday) to Nov. 1, 2024 (Friday).
Heavy traffic expected
Visitors to Little India should expect crowds due to the Deepavali celebrations, especially the eve of the festival on Oct. 30 (Wednesday), police said in a press release on Oct. 28.
Heavy traffic and footfall are expected along Serangoon Road during the festivities.
As such, police advised visitors to safeguard their belongings and exercise vigilance.
Pedestrians should take note that the pedestrian crossing at Birch Road, in front of Angullia Mosque, will be closed from 4pm on Oct. 30 to 4am on Oct. 31, for crowd and traffic management.
Another pedestrian crossing at Campbell Lane may be closed if needed.
Directional signs will be displayed to indicate the nearest alternate pedestrian crossing, with auxiliary police officers deployed at the affected roads and junctions.
Motorists are advised to use alternative routes and drive with caution.
Restrictions on liquor consumption
Under the provisions of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, both Little India and Geylang are declared as Liquor Control Zones (LCZ) for the period.
The public should be mindful of the period during which no public drinking is allowed within a LCZ, which will be from 7:00pm on Oct. 30, 2024 (Wednesday) to 7:00am on Nov. 1, 2024 (Friday).
Image from Singapore Police Force.
During prescribed no public drinking periods, those found drinking liquor in a public place within a LCZ will face enhanced penalties.
First-time offenders can be fined up to S$1,500, while repeat offenders can be fined up to S$3,000, jailed up to 4.5 months, or both.
Retailers who supply liquor outside the allowed trading hours may also have their liquor licences revoked.
Police will also take enforcement action against individuals involved in the illegal possession, import and discharge of fireworks, as well as those who misuse sparklers, such as by combining multiple sparklers together.
Deepavali light-up launched on Sep. 14
The Little India area has taken on a festive mood leading up to Deepavali, with the launch of the annual Deepavali light-up in Little India from Sep. 14.
The area typically hosts cultural performances, religious ceremonies, and shopping bazaars selling traditional Indian snacks, clothing, and decorations as part of the festivities.
Top image from Woodlands Galaxy CC / Facebook
