Tricity rings in New Year with parties, jams

As the clock struck midnight while bidding adieu to 2024, the tricity transformed into a vibrant party hub, with residents letting their hair down to welcome 2025. The Tribune embarked on its own ‘gedi’ route to get a first-hand account of how residents were celebrating the New Year’s Eve, starting from Panchkula and ending in Mohali.

Be it Sector 5, Panchkula, clubs on Madhya Marg, oldest and busiest Sector 22, tree-line pedestrian plaza of Sector 17 or Mohali’s Jubilee Walk, residents were out and about making the most of the last day of the year. It also led to traffic congestion at various hotspots all around the tricity. Even the popular malls, Hi5 in Panchkula, Elante in Industrial Area, Chandigarh, CP67 in Mohali, were crowded, with visitors enjoying the decorations and clicking pictures with family and friends.

From lavish hotel bashes to trendy rooftop bars, and from live music concerts to DJ nights, the options were endless for those looking to paint the town red. The popular ‘gedi route (Sectors 8-9-10-11) was mostly closed to public. The Sector 10 Leisure Valley entry point had a naka, The Government College of Arts route was completely closed at both ends and only residents were allowed to pass through. A policeman who was busy blocking the Sector 8 gurdwara entry point said there was one-hour traffic jams inside the sectors and commuters had been told to take an alternative route after 10 pm. Even the road leading to Elante was closed at 11 pm. Only those with bookings and show passes were allowed.

Entry points to Madhya Marg clubs also had slow moving traffic and many stood outside in queues for entries to clubs between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm. Many families and groups of friends were seen enjoying midnight walks in Sector 17 Plaza and around Aroma in Sector 22. Some even started dancing in groups to celebrate New Year.

Around 10 pm the traffic police started setting up nakas. There were DJ nights and gourmet dinners at high-end restaurants and malls, but a unique ball at rooftop lounge of Hi5 mall caught attention. Just 600 m away from the there, Sai Utsav was being celebrated. Roads were lit with fancy lighting in Sector 5, Panchkula.

In Mohali, Jubilee Walk was brimming with people enjoying the open market views. There was no cop to manage CP 67 Mall light point as people parked cars on pavements near the mall.