CJP protest continues: Delhi Metro curbs to continue for 4th straight day; 18 stations to remain shut from 7.30am | Delhi News
NEW DELHI: Curbs on Delhi Metro services in Central Delhi will continue for the fourth straight day on Saturday amid the ongoing protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak, with 18 stations set to remain closed from 7.30am until further instructions.The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced the latest restrictions on Friday evening, saying interchange facilities will continue to be available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat stations.The DMRC announced that train services on Airport Express Line shall only be available between Dhaula Kuan and Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25.The continued metro restrictions have sparked concerns among commuters, with repeated station closures and transport disruptions triggering a backlash on social media.As per a PTI report, several daily travellers questioned why thousands of commuters were being inconvenienced due to security measures imposed in response to the Jantar Mantar protest.The latest announcement comes after 17 metro stations in central Delhi remained closed on Friday for the third consecutive day due to security reasons.The DMRC had also announced the closure of the New Delhi metro station till further orders, with no interchange facility available there.The New Delhi station is a key interchange connecting the Yellow Line and the Airport Express Line and provides direct access to the New Delhi Railway Station. Its closure was expected to inconvenience thousands of commuters and railway passengers.Soon after the announcements, several users took to X to express concern over the impact on office-goers, students, hospital visitors and travellers. Some also apprehended that the restrictions could lead to a spike in app-based cab fares due to surge pricing.Several users questioned why daily commuters travelling to offices, schools and hospitals were being inconvenienced, arguing that the restrictions would not deter protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar.Tagging the DMRC, one user wrote, “Are you running DMRC at your expense or public taxpayer money? Kindly give us a valid ground for the closure of these stations.”The closure of the New Delhi metro station on Friday afternoon triggered another wave of criticism online.While some users described the move as an “atrocity”, others said the closure would force passengers to depend on cabs, resulting in higher travel costs due to surge pricing. Some also called for offices to allow employees to work from home in view of the disruption.“This is a public service. What alternative transport options have you made available? Taxpayers have the right to ask,” one user posted.Another user said, “Closing New Delhi Metro station will make travel much harder for thousands of passengers heading to the railway station and the Airport Express. Many people may now have no option but to book cabs, and surge pricing is likely to make travel much more expensive.”A third comment read, “Why not declare a curfew in the New Delhi area? What is this sadistic pleasure of asking people to come to the office and making them suffer by blocking avenues for them to reach the workplace?”The DMRC has maintained that the station closures are being implemented due to security reasons and will remain in force until further instructions.The following 18 metro stations will remain closed from 7.30am on Saturday:1. Lok Kalyan Marg2. Rajiv Chowk3. Patel Chowk4. Ramakrishna Ashram Marg5. Barakhambha Road6. Supreme Court7. Seva Teerth8. Janpath9. Mandi House10. Central Secretariat11. ITO12. Delhi Gate13. Indraprastha14. Khan Market15. Jor Bagh16. Shivaji Stadium17. Jhandewalan18. New DelhiInterchange facilities will continue to remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat, according to the DMRC.(With agency inputs)
