Delhi Metro stations in central Delhi were closed to entry and exit on Friday after police identified several locations as sensitive from security and law-and-order perspectives, disrupting travel for commuters heading to offices, shops, coaching centres and New Delhi railway station.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced at 8 am that entry and exit would remain closed at 11 stations until further notice. The stations were Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazaar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi. DMRC initially kept interchange facilities available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, INA, New Delhi and Central Secretariat.
Barakhambha Road was added to the closure list about four hours later. At around 2 pm, DMRC said interchange facilities at New Delhi station would also remain unavailable until further notice. The station is a key interchange between the Yellow Line and the Airport Express Line.
DMRC did not cite an official reason in its initial announcement. However, DMRC sources said the closures followed directions from police concerning locations identified as sensitive. A senior police officer told Times of India that the decision was taken after an assessment of the situation and security measures. The closures came on a day when protests had been planned at Jantar Mantar.
The restrictions created difficulties for passengers who had to use alternative Metro stations, autos and other modes of transport. Rashi Sharma, who works in Janpath, said she had to get off at ITO and take an auto because trains did not stop at Janpath or the next station, Mandi House. Mahesh Singh, who works at a shop in Connaught Place, said security personnel at Rajiv Chowk did not allow him to leave through one of the station gates.
Other passengers reported problems reaching onward connections. One commuter said on X that he had a train to catch from New Delhi railway station and questioned how he would reach it. Another passenger whose train did not stop at some Yellow Line stations criticised DMRC for not announcing the disruption earlier.
The closures affected a city on a public holiday when government offices and educational institutions were shut for Gandhi Jayanti, while many private offices, coaching centres and shops remained open. The central Delhi stations serve major employment, retail, administrative and interchange destinations, meaning that even partial closures can shift demand to roads and neighbouring stations.
Security-related Metro restrictions during protests have occurred repeatedly in Delhi. During a protest in July, 18 central Delhi stations were shut for several days, according to the report. In February 2024, multiple gates at nine stations across the city were closed during a farmers’ protest. In January 2021, 16 stations were shut after protesting farmers entered the city and clashes took place near the Red Fort and ITO. During the anti-CAA and NRC protests in 2019, DMRC temporarily closed nearly 20 stations.
DMRC’s latest updates did not specify when normal entry, exit and interchange facilities would resume. The restrictions remained in force until further notice, with the next change dependent on the security assessment and directions from the authorities.
