Delhi Metro shuts five stations before CJP protest march

Chaos enveloped Delhi's morning commute on Monday, July 20, as authorities closed multiple major metro stations in the city's center, stranding thousands of passengers and sparking impromptu protests inside concourses. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) shut stations including Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, and Seva Teerth, citing security reasons ahead of a planned protest march to Parliament.

The disruptions began in the early morning hours, with stations like Mandi House becoming densely packed as commuters discovered exits sealed without prior warning. Trains bypassed closed stations, leaving passengers scrambling for alternative routes. The situation escalated as frustration mounted among those trapped inside; at several locations, people climbed over barricades and metal detectors and raised slogans demanding to be let out. The area outside Patel Chowk station was heavily barricaded, while passengers arriving from the New Delhi Railway Station, interstate bus terminals, and the airport faced lengthy walks or struggled to find buses, autorickshaws, and cabs.

The security measures were implemented as thousands of supporters of the Cockroach...