Pabitra Banerjee : The national capital is bracing for massive commuter chaos and stringent security shutdowns after the Delhi Police requested the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to suspend entry and exit operations across 57 major metro stations starting late tonight.
The drastic preemptive measures have been rolled out in response to a high-tension political showdown brewing around a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to official directives, the widespread entry and exit restrictions will take effect from 9 PM and remain strictly enforced through tomorrow, impacting crucial transit nodes across central, northern, southern, eastern, and western Delhi. While interchange facilities will continue functioning at most locations to prevent total gridlock, authorities confirmed that passenger movement will face heavy screening, and the New Delhi station interchange will remain entirely non-operational.
The sweeping security dragnet—which has also triggered emergency petitions and sharp scrutiny in the Supreme Court over proportionality and public inconvenience—comes as police deny formal permission for the gathering, citing strict timelines and violations of previous undertakings. Security forces have fortified border checkpoints, suspended local internet links near the protest epicenter, and restricted select incoming mail and express trains.
With major political fronts throwing their weight behind the agitation and security apparatuses locked in high alert, citizens across the capital region are being advised to expect severe transit disruptions, heavy barricading, and intense vehicular checks through the weekend.
Police clamp down ahead of Jantar mantar protest: 60 metro stations to shut down
