Commuters in the national capital faced significant inconvenience on Thursday as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) closed 16 key metro stations in central Delhi due to security concerns linked to ongoing protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar.
The closures, which began around 7:30 AM and continued till further orders, affected major interchange and central hubs including Rajiv Chowk, ITO, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, Khan Market, and others. This marks the second or third major disruption this week, following similar shutdowns earlier amid the protests.
List of Closed Stations
▪️Lok Kalyan Marg
▪️Rajiv Chowk
▪️Patel Chowk
▪️Ramakrishna Ashram Marg
▪️Barakhamba Road
▪️Supreme Court
▪️Seva Teerth
▪️Janpath
▪️Mandi House
▪️Central Secretariat
▪️ITO
▪️Delhi Gate
▪️Indraprastha
▪️Khan Market
▪️Jor Bagh
▪️Shivaji Stadium
Interchange facilities remained operational at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat to minimize some impact, but entry and exit were suspended at all listed stations. Trains ran on lines but skipped stops at closed stations, forcing many passengers to alight elsewhere and seek road transport.
Office-goers, students, and daily commuters reported chaos during peak hours, with long queues for buses, autos, and cabs, and heavy traffic snarls around Mandi House, Connaught Place, and Parliament areas due to heightened security deployment.
Official’s Statement
The DMRC issued an official advisory citing security reasons based on inputs from Delhi Police.
“Below mentioned Metro stations will be closed from 07:30 AM till further instructions. However, Interchange facility shall remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.”
— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)
Delhi Police and authorities emphasized the measures as precautionary to prevent any untoward incidents near sensitive areas like Parliament and protest sites.
Protester’s Statement
The CJP protests, which have been ongoing for weeks at Jantar Mantar, stem from demands related to alleged irregularities in examinations like NEET-UG and CBSE evaluations, calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Protesters have vowed to continue their agitation peacefully.
“The agitation will continue until the Union Education Minister resigns. The July 20 Parliament march was only a trailer… We urge protesters to stick to peaceful slogans: Bharat Mata ki Jai, Inquilab Zindabad, Jai Bheem, and Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do.”
— CJP Spokesperson (as reported in coverage)
Opposition leaders have criticized the station closures and security measures, calling them attempts to suppress the student movement.
Commuters are advised to check the official DMRC website or app for real-time updates, plan alternative routes, and avoid central Delhi areas if possible. Services are expected to resume once the security situation normalizes. This incident highlights the recurring impact of protests on public transport in the capital.
