Delhi Metro shuts five stations ahead of CJP march, commuters stranded

Chaos broke out at several Delhi Metro stations on Monday after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation shut five stations over security concerns ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's march to Parliament. The move left hundreds of commuters stranded, with many forced to take longer routes to reach work and college.In a post on X on Monday morning, the DMRC said Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth stations would remain closed until further instructions for security reasons. The closures came amid heightened security arrangements in central Delhi for the proposed protest.At Rajiv Chowk, one of the capital's busiest interchange stations, commuters crowded near the closed entry and exit gates. At Patel Chowk, security personnel used mild force to disperse people heading to the CJP protest site at Jantar Mantar. Videos shared on social media showed some passengers climbing over barricades and locked gates to get out after access points were shut.Outside Janpath station, students, office-goers and other commuters waited near the closed gates for updates from security personnel. "I left home nearly an hour earlier than usual to avoid the Monday rush, but now I have to walk to another metro station. It will take me at least another 30 to 40 minutes to reach my office," commuter Amit Sharma said. College student Riya Verma, who arrived at Janpath with two classmates, said, "We reached the station only to find the gates locked. For a few minutes, nobody knew what was happening. Now we are trying to figure out another route to reach college." Many commuters were seen checking navigation apps, calling colleagues and family members, or asking metro staff and police personnel for directions. Several walked to nearby operational stations, while others took buses, auto-rickshaws and cabs as security remained tight across central Delhi. The closures ahead of the protest disrupted travel across key parts of the city and forced commuters to change plans at short notice.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 20, 2026 12:31 IST