Delhi is preparing for extensive transport and security restrictions on October 10 as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), student organisations, social activists and farmer groups plan a protest at Jantar Mantar, with authorities deploying additional forces and limiting access to key public transport locations.
The Delhi Police have proposed closing entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations and reducing train frequency, citing the possibility of “unruly crowd movement towards sensitive locations”, according to The Hindu. Stations identified for restrictions include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Kashmere Gate, Hauz Khas and Supreme Court.
The protest has been called by the CJP, led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with organisations including the All India Students Association and the All India Students Federation. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. They allege that the exercise has led to genuine voters being deleted, living citizens being marked as deceased and registration documents such as Form 6 being altered without consent.
The Delhi Police have denied permission for the demonstration, citing past rule violations and the short notice given with the application. Despite this, CJP leaders and representatives of student, farmers’ and civil rights groups have indicated that the mobilisation will proceed. Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has said that he and his family will join the protest at Jantar Mantar, while AISA national president Neha Bora has urged participants to hold local sit-ins across the country.
Rail services to Delhi have also been disrupted. Northern Railway said that 38 trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. on October 10 had been cancelled. The wider decision affects 48 incoming trains bound for stations in the Delhi area. The North Western Railway cancelled 13 services scheduled to depart for the national capital on October 9 and 10, citing operational reasons.
Western Railway rescheduled the Mumbai Central–New Delhi Rajdhani Express and August Kranti Rajdhani Express by five hours. It also cancelled several services, including trains from Bandra Terminus, Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Indore and Sabarmati to Delhi-area stations. Central Railway cancelled the CSMT–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express and the CSMT–New Delhi Rajdhani Express. Jammu railway division separately announced the cancellation of four trains heading towards the capital, including a Rajdhani service.
Railway authorities have established helpdesks and said passengers with valid, verified tickets will be permitted to access stations. The cancellations and rescheduling have been linked to anticipated road congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has provided additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces to the Delhi Police. Around 23,000 security personnel are expected to be deployed across the capital between October 8 and October 12, according to sources cited in the report. The New Delhi area will have multi-layered barricading, CCTV surveillance and facial-recognition-enabled cameras, while security checks will be maintained at Delhi’s borders, railway stations and bus terminals.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is in force, and gatherings that violate the restrictions will not be permitted. Police may also regulate access to markets and metro stations in the New Delhi area depending on the situation. The Delhi government has ordered retail liquor shops to remain closed on October 9 and 10. Some educational institutions, including Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, have shifted classes online or postponed scheduled events.
Authorities and railway officials are expected to continue coordinating security, station access and train operations through October 10, while commuters and passengers have been advised to verify services before travelling.
