t’s that time of the year when people look to end the year with a bang and welcome another one with hope. And Hyderabadis are pulling out all stops to be at a party that is going make a difference. While some have plans to party and book tickets for various events that will be held at different venues, others have booked villas or will be organising house parties. Uttama Swaroop, a degree student, will be heading to Rendezvous at Financial District, where a single entry costs Rs. 5,000.
Others like 24-year-old Mannan Khan plan to hit one of the happening venues in the city to party for the New Year. “Because the cops will be strict this year, we plan to return before 1 a.m. We’ll be booking a cab back home, which is the safest thing to do,” he said, and added that events at places like Taj Banjara and Taj Deccan where special performances will be held are where he would go with his friends. And for those who want to make this year end special, and are ready to shell out Rs. 22,500 for a single entry, Sufi maestro Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will be performing at the Taj Falaknuma Palace on Thursday night, from 8 p.m. onwards. Other star hotels in the city are also hosting various events, which include a breakfast on January 1, as part of the package deals.
What’s a party without getting a little…um… high. As most policemen at traffic junctions are expected to be armed with breathalyser kits, the party might end sooner than expected. This year, there is an app just to ensure that your ride home and the party continues unimpeded. “Mission Smart Ride app helps people with that. All one needs to do is to download Uber on their smart phones, and use the promo code MSR2016 while booking a cab, which will give them a discount of Rs. 200 on their ride,” informed Bhagi Nanda Sandilya, founder of Mission Smart Ride.
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“We have tied up with 20 establishments to inform customers about our New Year’s offer, but the service can be used by anyone who requires a ride back home after going to any bar or establishment,” he said. However, those partying at star hotels this year will not be able to listen to some of Bollywood’s hit songs, as a tussle over royalty issues is pending in the courts. The battle over patent rights between Mumbai-based production houses and star hotels here has resulted in a restraining order from a city civil court, barring hotels from playing movie songs owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd till January 21.