New Delhi, July 22: If you were trying to get around central Delhi on Tuesday, chances are your commute didn’t go as planned. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) temporarily shut down 16 stations because of beefed-up security arrangements tied to the ongoing CJP protest, and it threw a wrench into the morning routine for thousands of office-goers, students, and everyday passengers.
Trains simply aren’t stopping at the affected stations for now. The one silver lining: commuters can still switch metro lines using interchange points at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat, where services are still running.
Why Were the Stations Closed?
With the CJP demonstrations near Jantar Mantar showing no signs of slowing down, security around central Delhi has been ramped up significantly. Large crowds are expected at the protest site, and Delhi Police asked for extra security cover to protect key government buildings and other sensitive areas nearby.
To make matters more complicated, several roads around Parliament Street and Connaught Place have traffic restrictions in place too, so it’s not just the metro causing headaches today.
List of Metro Stations Closed Today
Here’s the full list of stations that have been shut down for now:
- Lok Kalyan Marg
- Rajiv Chowk
- Patel Chowk
- Ramakrishna Ashram Marg
- Barakhambha Road
- Supreme Court
- Seva Teerth
- Janpath
- Mandi House
- Central Secretariat
- ITO
- Delhi Gate
- Indraprastha
- Khan Market
- Jor Bagh
- Shivaji Stadium
If your usual route passes through any of these, it’s worth checking DMRC’s latest updates before you step out.
Commuters Face Delays
Peak-hour chaos was pretty much unavoidable. A lot of passengers had to get off at the nearest open station and figure out the rest of their journey on their own — hopping into buses, taxis, or autos. Long queues formed outside several stations, and the roads around them got noticeably more congested than usual.
People trying to reach Connaught Place, government offices, and colleges in the area seemed to bear the brunt of it.
DMRC Issues Travel Advisory
DMRC is asking commuters to plan and take alternate routes where they can. According to the metro operator, these stations will stay closed until security agencies give the go-ahead to resume normal services.
Officials have also suggested keeping an eye on DMRC’s official website and social media handles for real-time updates.
As things stand, security arrangements are expected to continue through the day in central Delhi, so if you’re heading that way, it’s best to leave a little earlier than usual and be ready for possible delays or detours.
