Delhi Metro has restricted entry and exit at 45 stations across the network ahead of the CJP’s ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ protest in the capital on Saturday, while Delhi Traffic Police has announced possible diversions and disruption around central Delhi. The restrictions began at 9 pm on Friday and are scheduled to continue until 6 pm on Saturday, according to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
Interchange facilities will remain available at the affected stations, except at New Delhi Metro station. The number of stations under restriction was reduced from 57 to 45 after the DMRC issued a revised advisory.
The affected stations include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, ITO, Delhi Gate, Khan Market, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Jhandewalan, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, Shivaji Stadium, Dilli Haat-INA, Hauz Khas, Jor Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Jangpura, Ashram, Jamia Millia Islamia, Chawri Bazar, Jama Masjid, Karol Bagh, Rajendra Place, Vishwavidyalaya, Kashmere Gate, Inderlok, Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar, Netaji Subhash Place, Azadpur, Jahangirpuri, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Majlis Park, Seelampur, Maujpur-Babarpur, Jafrabad, Welcome, Yamuna Vihar, Khajuri Khas, Shahdara and Rithala.
The DMRC has advised commuters to avoid non-essential travel and allow additional time for their journeys. It has specifically asked people travelling through New Delhi and central Delhi to railway stations, inter-state bus terminals or the airport to plan their routes in advance.
Road movement is also expected to be affected around Connaught Place, Mandi House, Jantar Mantar, Patel Chowk and other central intersections. The Delhi Traffic Police advisory came into effect at 6 am on Saturday, with diversions to be regulated according to the prevailing law-and-order situation.
The listed stretches include the Ashoka Road-Jantar Mantar Road roundabout, the Tolstoy Marg-Janpath crossing, the Jai Singh Road-Sansad Marg crossing, Rail Bhawan roundabout, Patel Chowk, Gol Dak Khana and Windsor Place. Traffic may also be affected at Mandi House, the Chelmsford Road and Sansad Marg intersections with Connaught Place’s outer circle, the Barakhamba Road intersection and the Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg junction.
Further locations identified by the traffic advisory include the Chelmsford Road-Connaught Place outer circle intersection, the Bharion Road-Mahatma Gandhi Marg intersection, Lodhi Road flyover, Neela Gumbad roundabout, Madarsa T-point, Samrat Hotel roundabout, the Sardar Patel Marg-Panchsheel Marg crossing, the underpasses beneath the Bhikaji Cama Place and Moti Bagh flyovers, and the Ring Road-San Martin Marg intersection.
Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers, with barricades and vehicle checks reported across the city. Visuals from the protest site early on Saturday showed security personnel stationed along roads and at barricades. Traffic was reported to be moving smoothly at the time of the report, although vehicles entering and leaving affected areas were being monitored and some were stopped for checking.
The restrictions come alongside a mobile internet suspension in parts of the capital. The DMRC’s station controls and the traffic diversions remain scheduled until the stated timings on Saturday, subject to the security situation and further official advisories.
