When all roads led to the beach!

CHENNAI: Despite what the clubs and discos promised about hosting the city’s biggest bashes, it was the Marina that won hands down, once again. But to be honest, till almost an hour before 2012 officially began, most of the city’s spirited revellers were uncertain about whether the beach party was really on. The Chennai Police were well and truly prepared by 9 pm — over and above the traffic diversions that were aimed to make everyone walk at least half-a-kilometre to the beach road.  An army of cops stood along the pavement and refused to allow anyone to enter the beach. “We have been coming to the beach for the last 18 years,” said a flummoxed Sandesh. “Never has the beach been off bounds on New Year’s eve,” he added. To add to their woes, the cops had all the lights switched off, so that the beach appeared dead.As the numbers swelled, the arguments with the cops grew stronger. By 11.15 pm, the message spread quickly among the cops. The lights came on, and in one swift move, a crowd that was well over 15,000 strong was allowed to enter the sands of the Marina and Elliot’s Beach, in time for the illuminated grand Simpson’s clock to strike midnight. The popular rumour was that a call must have been made from the powers that be to ensure people were not discontent. Once the news got out that the beach was open, the traffic along the Cathedral road began to swell and it seemed as though all roads led to the beach — both lanes! The madness reached a climax with a sea of humanity counting down to midnight, around the Gandhi statue.The flip side was, of course, the fact that despite clusters of cops at every signal in the city, stopping all and sundry, the rash bikers were seen in droves), splintered glass was seen on almost every major road and ambulances screeching through the night were a common sight, till well after Chennai ushered 2012 in.