Commuters rail as metro station closures disrupt their schedule

Large-scale disruptions were reported by metro passengers on Wednesday after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) closed the entry and exit gates at 16 stations for seven hours as part of restrictions around the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar.

While the DMRC announced the closures at stations along the Violet, Yellow and Blue Lines around 11.30 a.m., many passengers, including students and office-goers, said they had already boarded trains before receiving the information. Others reported they never received any notification.

Some protesters could be heard shouting slogans at stations in central Delhi where gates were shut.

The 16 stations included Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Central Secretariat, ITO, Jor Bagh and Shivaji Stadium. Interchange facilities at these stations were operational, the DMRC said.

‘Can’t stop work’

“People have to go to work, hospitals, appointments and exhibitions. You can’t stop people from living their lives,” said Tarun Atrey, a shopkeeper who runs a stall at Dilli Haat. He could not attend an exhibition to sell his wares at Patel Chowk because of the restrictions. “I didn’t face any issues in the morning when I got off at INA, which was open,” said Mr. Atrey, adding that he was unaware of the closure.

He ended up wasting an hour and eventually returned to INA. “The gates did not open at many stations. What’s the use of letting people change lines if they can’t leave the station?” he said.

‘Missed NEET class’

Priyanshu, a Class 12 student preparing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), said he missed his coaching class due to the restrictions.

“I was on my way when I found out that Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Janpath and Jor Bagh metro stations had been closed. I had no choice but to change my route completely and take the Pink Line from Jharoda Majra metro station. By the time I reached, the class was over.”

“The closures caused thousands of people to converge on the nearest open stations, where the crowd became so dense that it felt like a stampede could happen at any moment,” he added.

‘Wasted hours, money’

Chirag, who works at a multinational firm, said he took an autorickshaw to reach his office in south Delhi, which cost him extra time and money.

“My salary is only ₹15,000 a month. How are we supposed to keep paying for autos and other transport every time our commute is disrupted? These decisions should be made with the public’s interest in mind,” Mr. Chirag said.

Indresh, a worker at a food outlet in Khan Market, said the closure prolonged his usual 40-minute metro journey to a 90-minute road commute.

(Ekka Kant Kohli contributed to the reporting of this story)