The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has closed entry and exit at 12 stations in the national capital as Opposition parties and student organisations hold a protest in central Delhi on October 2, affecting access for commuters travelling through the city’s key administrative and commercial areas.
DMRC announced the closures through posts on X, initially reporting that 11 stations had been shut in the morning. The corporation announced the closure of one more station around noon. Entry and exit at Barakhamba Road station has also been closed until further notice.
The restrictions apply to station access rather than the entire Delhi Metro network. According to the service update cited by The Hindu, interchange facilities remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, INA, New Delhi and Central Secretariat stations. Commuters can therefore change between metro lines at these stations, although passengers intending to enter or leave at the affected stations will need to use alternate access points or routes.
The stations listed by DMRC for closure include Janpath and Patel Chowk, among others. The closures cover stations serving central Delhi, where government offices, public institutions, commercial areas and major roads make the metro a significant part of daily movement. The corporation has not specified in the reported update when normal entry and exit operations will resume.
The shutdown follows a protest by Opposition parties and members of the All India Students’ Association, Students’ Federation of India, National Students’ Union of India and other student bodies. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the nationwide revision of electoral rolls, known as the Special Intensive Revision.
The allegations are those raised by the protesting groups; the report does not provide an independent determination on them. The immediate operational decision reported by DMRC is the restriction of entry and exit at the affected metro stations while retaining interchange access at five specified stations.
For passengers, the distinction between station closure and interchange availability is important. A commuter may still be able to transfer between lines at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, INA, New Delhi or Central Secretariat, but may not be able to begin or end a journey at stations where entry and exit have been suspended. The arrangement could require additional walking, road travel or changes in route for people heading to central Delhi.
DMRC’s service update remains in force until further notice. Commuters using the affected corridors will need to check the corporation’s latest operational announcements before travelling, particularly as the protest continues and station access arrangements may change.
