NIGHT CURFEW
Ludhiana: Disappointed over the night curfew on New Year’s Eve, city’s party animals have decided to head to other cities, especially hill stations, to celebrate. Most hotels in the hill states have put a condition of a minimum two-night stay for the New Year, besides they are charging high rates and some are already overbooked.
Gurpreet Singh Chawla, president of the micro and small travel agents’ association, Ludhiana, said, “We are receiving a large number of inquiries for hotel bookings for the New Year’s eve at Dharamsala, Shimla, Mussoorie and even Udaipur and Kota. Most of the queries are from groups who want to celebrate, but are unable to because of night curfew in Punjab till January 1. There is a night curfew in Himachal Pradesh too, but hotels are organising parties and activities for in-house guests. However, majority of the hotels are offering a minimum two nights’ package and it’s not possible for some to extend the holiday as all three days, December 30, 31 and January 1, are week days.”
According to Susheel Sharma, manager of a travel agency, “There has been an increase in queries for New Year packages for hill stations. But there are problems as most of the good properties are already booked and premium charges are being quoted by hotels. So all queries may not translate into final bookings.”
Navjot Singh, a realtor from BRS Nagar, said, “We are a group of eight couples and every year we organise a party. But due to night curfew till January 1, we have decided to book a hotel in Kausali.”