Delhi Metro access may be restricted at 57 stations from 9pm on October 9 until normalisation of the situation on October 10, after Delhi Police asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to close entry and exit gates ahead of a protest at Jantar Mantar. Indian Railways has separately cancelled several Mail and Express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations during the morning period on Saturday.
The proposed metro restrictions were communicated by Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport Range) Rajneesh Gupta to DMRC managing director Vikas Kumar in a letter dated October 8. The police cited the likelihood of “unruly mob movement towards sensitive locations” and asked the metro corporation to take appropriate measures. The letter said the restrictions could continue on Saturday until the situation normalises.
Delhi Police also indicated that train frequency through the affected stations may be reduced on October 10, depending on the situation. The final operational decision rests with DMRC, and the police communication requested measures at stations located across central, south, north, northeast and northwest Delhi.
Stations identified in the police communication include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, ITO, Delhi Gate, Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, INA, Hauz Khas, Jamia Millia Islamia, Shaheen Bagh, Welcome, Azadpur and Rohini West. The list also includes Lok Kalyan Marg, Khan Market, R.K. Ashram Marg, Jangpura, Sarai Kale Khan-Nizamuddin, Ashram, Kalindi Kunj, Chawri Bazar, Jama Masjid, Karol Bagh, Rajendra Place, Vishwavidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha, Civil Lines, Shastri Nagar, G.T.B. Nagar, Kanhaiya Nagar, Netaji Subhash Place, Adarsh Nagar, Jahangir Puri, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Majlis Park, Shalimar Bagh, Seelampur, Maujpur, Jafrabad, Yamuna Vihar, Khazuri Khas, Shahdara, Rithala and Rohini East.
The protest at Jantar Mantar has been called against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and changes to Form 6, the form used for voter registration. The police request is intended to manage crowd movement around sensitive locations during the demonstration.
Railways issued a separate order on October 9 covering incoming services. Mail and Express trains departing from their originating stations after 2pm on Friday and scheduled to reach New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin between 4am and 2pm on Saturday will be cancelled at source, according to the order. Railway sources said the decision was taken because road congestion around the two stations could make it difficult for passengers to arrange taxis or other onward transport.
As of Friday, trains terminating at Anand Vihar, Old Delhi, Bijwasan, Sarai Rohilla and Delhi Cantt had not been cancelled. Services originating from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin were also unchanged at that stage. Railway sources, however, said departures could be affected if incoming trains do not reach the two stations during the restricted period. DMRC’s station-level operating decision and any further railway changes will depend on the situation on October 10.
