Delhi Police Seeks Restrictions at 57 Metro Stations

Delhi Police has asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to close entry and exit gates at 57 stations ahead of a protest scheduled at Jantar Mantar on October 10, while also proposing possible reductions in train frequency. Whether DMRC will implement the measures remained unconfirmed in formal communications reported on October 9. In a letter dated October 8, Joint Commissioner of Police Rajneesh Gupta asked DMRC to arrange the gate restrictions from 9 p.m. on October 9. The police proposal said the measures could continue on October 10 until the situation normalises. It also said train frequency at the affected stations may be reduced, depending on the situation. Police cited the possibility of unruly crowd movement toward sensitive locations as the reason for seeking the precautions. The request covers 57 stations across Delhi, including central and interchange stops such as Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, New Delhi, Patel Chowk, Mandi House, ITO and Kashmere Gate. The proposed gate closures concern station entry and exit; they do not by themselves mean that every affected station would cease all train service.