Thousands visited Alipore Zoological Gardens, Eco Park and other tourist spots in the city and elsewhere to celebrate the last day of 2018.
As dusk settled down, the crowd swelled at hotels, pubs and hangout joints to participate in the celebrations in the run-up to 2019.
At the brightly illuminated Park Street, the city's most preferred destination for party-goers and Christmas revellers for decades, popular restaurants and pubs were occupied with party goers ready to embrace the new year.
The eateries were decked up with balloons, twinklers and decorative lights.
The crowd at the night clubs at luxury hotels across the city also geared up for the New Year Eve parties offering a heady cocktail of dance, music, DJs, food and wine.
Most star hotels and elite clubs are having poolside parties and buffet dinners with drinks for the occasion.
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Preparations were also on at churches to usher in the new year with the New Year Eves mass, even as people thronged the compound at landmark churches like the St Paul's Cathedral, which had been illuminated for the past week since the Christmas day.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said siren will be played in several parts of the state at midnight to welcome 2019.
CMO sources said the siren will be played to mark the advent of new year after 32 years.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made at various points.