16 Delhi Metro stations shut for a second consecutive day on Thursday as crowds swelled at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest near Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said. The closures, which began at 7:30 am, were attributed to security reasons amid the ongoing demonstrations, according to a DMRC statement posted on X. The affected stations are located across central Delhi, an area that has seen repeated protest activity in recent days.
The stations closed include 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 and Shivaji Stadium, DMRC confirmed. Interchange facilities, however, remain available at three of these stations , Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat , allowing commuters to switch metro lines despite the shutdown.
The temporary closures have affected some of the busiest metro corridors in central Delhi, including stations that serve major commercial, government and tourist areas. Rajiv Chowk, for instance, is one of the network’s key interchange points, while Central Secretariat provides access to important government offices. Mandi House is also a significant interchange station for commuters travelling between different parts of the city. Although interchange facilities remain available at these three stations, passengers may still face delays or longer travel times because they cannot exit or enter the stations as usual.
The decision to keep the stations closed until further instructions means that commuters should check the latest service updates before beginning their journeys through central Delhi. The restrictions may also affect people travelling to offices, markets and other public places in the affected areas. With the protest continuing at Jantar Mantar, authorities are expected to monitor the situation and assess when normal metro operations can safely resume. The DMRC’s decision to maintain interchange facilities at selected stations provides some relief to passengers who need to change lines, but those travelling to destinations near the closed stations may need to use alternative routes or other forms of public transport.
“Due to security reasons… the metro stations have been closed till further instructions,” DMRC said in its statement. The corporation did not specify a timeline for reopening the stations, and commuters have been advised to plan alternate routes until further updates are issued.
This marks the second day in a row that the same 16 stations have been shut, according to CNBC-TV18. Similar restrictions were imposed on Wednesday, though all stations reopened by evening that day. Several metro stations were also closed on Monday, July 20, when thousands gathered in central Delhi in response to the CJP’s call to march toward Parliament, according to The Hindu.
The station closures coincide with heightened security deployment around Jantar Mantar, where the CJP protest has continued to intensify over recent days. According to NDTV, BJP leader K Annamalai alleged during the demonstrations that the NEET paper had been leaked multiple times over the past five years, a claim that has not been independently verified.
The protests are part of a broader pattern of large-scale demonstrations in the capital this year. StudioX News previously reported on related developments during CJP-linked protests, including coverage of Rahul Gandhi’s detention by Delhi Police during an earlier demonstration in the city.
Security personnel have been stationed at multiple closed stations, including Patel Chowk, as authorities work to manage crowd movement in the area. DMRC has not issued any statement indicating when normal services at all 16 stations will resume.
Commuters travelling through central Delhi have been directed to use alternative transport options while the closures remain in effect. Further updates on station reopening are expected to be issued directly by DMRC through https://delhimetrorail.com/ and its social media accounts.
I am Rukaiya Kadiwala, an experienced News Content Writer with 6+ years of expertise in hospitality, travel, hotel, restaurant, business, and lifestyle news. Skilled in writing, research, fact-checking, headline creation, and digital publishing, I create accurate, engaging, and high-quality content that informs and attracts readers worldwide.
