Delhi Metro restrictions may affect commuters across the capital from 9pm on October 9, after Delhi Police asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to close entry and exit gates at 57 stations ahead of a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10. The request is expected to remain in force until the situation normalises, while train frequencies at the affected stations may also be reduced.
In a letter dated October 8, Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport Range) Rajneesh Gupta asked DMRC managing director Vikas Kumar to take the necessary measures. The police cited the possibility of “unruly mob movement towards sensitive locations” during demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The stations identified in the police communication include several key interchanges and stations serving central Delhi, south Delhi, north Delhi, northeast Delhi and Rohini. They 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, Jamia, Chawri Bazar, Jama Masjid, Karol Bagh, Rajendra Place, Vishwavidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha, Civil Lines, Shastri Nagar, GTB 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. Kashmere Gate and Welcome appear more than once in the list published in the police communication.
Delhi Police has indicated that the restrictions could continue on October 10 until the situation returns to normal. The force has also told DMRC that the frequency of metro trains passing through the affected stations may be reduced, depending on developments. The communication does not establish that all listed stations will necessarily remain closed for the entire period; it asks DMRC to take measures in view of the anticipated situation.
Indian Railways has separately cancelled Mail and Express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4am and 2pm on October 10. A railway order issued on October 9 said trains departing from their originating stations after 2pm on October 9 and scheduled to reach either of the two stations during the restricted window would be cancelled at source.
Railway sources cited the expected road congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin as the reason for limiting the cancellations to trains bound for those stations. The concern was that passengers arriving during the protest period could face difficulty arranging taxis and other onward transport to reach their final destinations.
As of October 9, trains terminating at Anand Vihar, Old Delhi, Bijwasan, Sarai Rohilla and Delhi Cantt had not been cancelled. There was also no change in the schedule of trains originating from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin. Railway sources, however, said departures could be affected if incoming trains failed to reach the two stations during the restricted period.
The protest has been called against Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and changes to Form 6, the form used to register voters. Delhi Police’s request to DMRC and the railway restrictions are intended to manage movement around sensitive locations and reduce the transport disruption expected during the demonstration.
