Delhi Metro restrictions and security arrangements ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar have prompted several schools and colleges to move classes online, postpone examinations and reschedule campus activities scheduled for October 10. The measures follow anticipated barricading in central Delhi and possible disruption at metro stations.
Sardar Patel Vidyalaya informed parents that classes for students from Classes 6 to 12 would be conducted online on Saturday because of extensive barricading in the New Delhi area and concerns over student safety. The school also discontinued its stay-back facility for students on Friday. Its Activity Week inauguration, scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed, with a new date to be announced later.
Other schools have made similar changes to their weekend schedules. Raghubir Singh Junior Modern School rescheduled its parent-teacher meeting, which was due to discuss students’ report cards. The revised schedule will be communicated to parents, the school said. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Mehta Vidyalaya on Kasturba Gandhi Marg cancelled sports day practice and enrichment classes for students in Classes 9 to 12, citing the proposed protest and the need to safeguard students.
The disruption has also affected higher education institutions. Bharatiya Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering in Paschim Vihar postponed its mid-term examinations scheduled for Saturday to Monday. 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 examination timings at the college will remain unchanged on the revised date. Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology in Rohini also postponed its mid-term examinations, moving them to October 12 after receiving communication from the Delhi Police about anticipated metro restrictions. The institute said the decision was approved by the dean of USICT and the BTech Programme Coordination Committee. Department heads were asked to inform faculty members and students.
According to the report, the Delhi Police requested the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to close entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations from 9 pm on Friday until further notice. The request cited the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar and the possibility of unruly movement towards sensitive locations. The planned restrictions have therefore extended beyond the protest site, affecting access to the wider metro network and forcing educational institutions to alter schedules.
The changes show how security-related restrictions on a major public transport system can quickly affect routine urban services, including school attendance, examinations, parent meetings and campus activities. The affected institutions have announced revised schedules or online arrangements, while the metro access plan remains subject to the police advisory and further instructions.
