Long Holi-Good Friday weekend will see Mumbaikars hotfooting it out of city

Mumbai: A four-day weekend that kicks off with Holi on March 24 or the coming Thursday, will see several Mumbaikars dash off to their favourite destinations outside the city.
Bank executive Ritwik Gupta said he would rather head to Malwan than watch “criminal wastage” of water for Holi in a drought year. Gupta, who supports an NGO that works for farmers and their resources, has already booked into a resort there.
While March 24 is a public holiday for Holi or Rang Panchami, March 25 is Good Friday. Both holidays have come coupled with a fourth Saturday, which, in any case, is a non-working day for several banks. This is the fourth long weekend this year.
MTDC joint managing director Satish Soni said all their resorts along Konkan beaches, hill stations on Western Ghats, Ajanta and Elora caves, and the jungles of Vidarbha such as Tadoba are fully booked. “Some have long waiting lists. Even rooms made available by locals under the MTDC’s bread-and-breakfast scheme are full,” said another tourism department official.
Meanwhile, several housing societies, which have begun water cuts ahead of the impending shortage due to low dam levels, will skip Holi celebrations. “We have planned a vacation in Malshejghat as exams are also coming to an end ahead of Holi,” said Kundan Kogje, a Bandra resident and a media executive.
Ritwik Gupta’s Priya, who too works in a bank, said ATMs may be filled since there is a possibility of large withdrawals for the four days.
Expecting a major exodus, police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni said they are taking utmost care to avoid burglaries. “We are requesting people to inform others of their plans and make security arrangements before leaving. Valuables should be kept in lockers,” he said and added that traffic police are geared to ensure safe and efficient exit from the city.
“Now that Mumbaikars will head to tourist destinations in a big way, hotel occupancy has fallen in the city. So, this is the right time to visit Mumbai, which is known for its safe and peaceful Holi,” said Bharat Malkani, president of Hotels and Restaurants Association, Western India.
He said hoteliers are also promoting a dry Holi.