Delhi Metro station closures will affect entry and exit at 57 stations from 9 pm on Friday ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar and other locations in New Delhi district on October 10, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said. The restrictions will continue until further notice, while train services and interchange access may also be altered depending on the security situation.
The affected stations include several of Delhi’s busiest transport hubs, such as Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk and Kashmere Gate. Other prominent stations on the list are Janpath, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, ITO, Delhi Gate, Khan Market, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Hauz Khas and INA.
According to the DMRC announcement, interchange facilities will remain available at all affected stations except New Delhi. However, commuters will not be able to enter or exit through the gates at the stations covered by the restriction. The arrangement means passengers may still be able to change lines at most affected stations, but will need to use other stations to begin or complete their journeys.
The closure follows a request from Delhi Police to the DMRC. In a letter dated October 8, the police cited the possibility of “unruly movement” towards sensitive locations in connection with the proposed protests at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the New Delhi district. The police also indicated that the frequency of metro trains passing through the identified stations could be reduced on Saturday, depending on developments.
The station list extends beyond the central government and commercial districts. It includes Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Millia Islamia, Okhla Vihar, Kalindi Kunj, Lajpat Nagar, Ashram, Sarai Kale Khan-Nizamuddin, Welcome, Shahdara, Rithala, Rohini, Azadpur, Jangpura and Shivaji Stadium. The breadth of the list could affect passengers travelling across multiple corridors, particularly those using central Delhi stations for interchange or access to offices, public institutions and commercial areas.
The DMRC has not announced a fixed end time for the restrictions. Its notice said the closure would remain in force until further notice, with operational changes to be determined in coordination with the security authorities. Commuters using the Metro on Friday night and Saturday will therefore need to check station access and train operations before travelling.
