Delhi Metro restrictions and expected road congestion ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 have prompted schools and colleges to move classes online, reschedule meetings and postpone examinations, while Indian Railways has cancelled several trains arriving at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations.
Sardar Patel Vidyalaya has informed parents that classes for students from Classes 6 to 12 will be held online on Saturday because of extensive barricading in the New Delhi area and concerns over student safety. The school has also discontinued its stay-back facility for students on Friday and postponed the inauguration of its Activity Week, with a new date to be announced.
Raghubir Singh Junior Modern School has rescheduled its parent-teacher meeting, which was scheduled for Saturday to discuss students’ report cards. The school said the revised schedule would be communicated to parents.
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Mehta Vidyalaya on Kasturba Gandhi Marg has cancelled sports day practice and enrichment classes for students in Classes 9 to 12 that were planned for Saturday. The school cited the proposed protest and concerns over student safety, according to the report by the Times of India, which attributed the information to PTI.
The expected transport restrictions have also affected college examinations. Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering in Paschim Vihar has postponed its mid-term examinations scheduled for Saturday to Monday. In a notice, the college said the decision followed directions from the dean of the University School of Information, Communication and Technology at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and the Joint Commissioner of Police, Transport Range, Delhi.
The college said examination timings would remain unchanged on the revised date. Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology in Rohini has also postponed its mid-term examinations from Saturday to October 12 after receiving communication from Delhi Police regarding anticipated metro restrictions. The institute said the change was approved by the dean of USICT and the BTech Programme Coordination Committee, and that department heads had been asked to inform faculty members and students.
Delhi Police has requested the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to close entry and exit gates at 57 stations from 9 pm on Friday until further notice. The police cited the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar and the possibility of unruly movement towards sensitive locations. The report does not specify whether train services at all affected stations would stop or whether the restrictions would apply only to station entry and exit gates.
Indian Railways has separately cancelled all Mail and Express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10. Railway sources said the decision was taken because severe road congestion around the two stations could make it difficult for arriving passengers to find taxis and other onward transport.
The proposed protest is being organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar. The party has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The reported school, college, metro and railway measures are tied to anticipated movement and congestion around the protest location and sensitive areas. Further operational details will depend on instructions issued by Delhi Police and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
