The Delhi Police has asked Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to restrict entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations from 9 pm on Friday, October 9, ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. The proposed guidelines are issued keeping in mind the heighten security in the national capital due to demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The police official also suggested that the metro authorities should lower the frequency of trains at the proposed stations due to the likelihood of unruly crowds heading towards sensitive areas.

In their letter, the Joint Commissioner of Police, Transport Range, has recommended that the restrictions at the identified stations may remain in force until October 10 or until the situation returns to normal. The letter, addressed to DMRC MD Vikas Kumar, asked the metro authority to take necessary instructions to its officers and staff to enforce the proposed restrictions.

 

57 Metro Stations Identified

 A look at the letter shows that the stations that have been proposed to restrict entry and exit gates include many of the city’s major interchange points and prominent locations, including Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Mandi House, ITO, Delhi Gate, Khan Market, Supreme Court and Indraprastha.

Besides, the list of 57 metro stations proposed to restrict gates includes INA, Hauz Khas, Lajpat Nagar, Kashmere Gate, Karol Bagh, Jama Masjid, Vishwavidyalaya, Seelampur, Shahdara and Rohini West.

Lok Kalyan Marg, Jor Bagh, Jangpura, Ashram, Jamia Millia Islamia, Okhla Vihar, Civil Lines, GTB Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, Jahangir Puri, welcome, Yamuna Vihar and Rithala are some others stations that have figured in the list proposed by the police.

Also, the INA metro station that sees traffic of two metro lines has also been proposed to put gates. Commuters travelling through these stations are advised to keep a track of any restrictions imposed on the stations.

 

CJP Calls ‘Chalo Delhi’ March

The proposed guidelines by the Delhi Police come ahead of CJP’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ march that will be organised on October 10 at Jantar Mantar. The party has been staging protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The demonstrations against the top poll official have been staged across the country against the controversial Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The proposed restrictions by the Delhi Police at the metro stations are in order to keep a check on crowds that may gather at sensitive areas during the protests. However, commuters are advised to keep a track of the guidelines as the police official has asked DMRC to suggest whether the proposed measures could be taken or not.