Delhi Metro Shuts 12 Stations as Security Tightens Around Jantar Mantar Protest Site
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has closed entry and exit gates at a dozen stations Friday as authorities locked down the area surrounding Jantar Mantar
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has closed entry and exit gates at a dozen stations Friday as authorities locked down the area surrounding Jantar Mantar ahead of planned demonstrations. The move affects commuters across India's capital and drew immediate criticism from opposition figures who vowed protesters would find their way regardless.
Twelve stations now have restricted access, including Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, and New Delhi. Four interchange hubs—Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, New Delhi, and Barakhamba—remain open for passenger transfers between lines.
Security Presence Escalates
Police and Rapid Action Force personnel now patrol Jantar Mantar, with riot control vehicles positioned at the site. Barricades block roads leading to the area. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has deployed additional security personnel, signaling official concern about the scale of expected gatherings.
The security cordon reflects government anxiety over the planned action. But opposition voices pushed back hard. Saurav Das, a spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party, dismissed the closure strategy on social media. "How many metro stations will you shut down? People will come walking, and they'll come running too," he posted, framing the transit restrictions as futile attempts to block public movement.
Political Defiance
Das also invoked broader political language, writing that the demonstrations signal the end of what he called a "tyrannical regime." The rhetoric signals that organizers view the protest not merely as a local grievance but as a test of state capacity to manage dissent in South Asia's second-most populous country.
The Metro shutdown affects millions of daily commuters who rely on the transit system to navigate Delhi. No timeline was given for when services would resume at the shuttered stations. Officials have said the closures remain in effect "until further notice," leaving commuters uncertain how long disruptions will last.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
