Delhi commuters faced a disrupted morning on Monday as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation shut entry and exit at six central Delhi stations from 6 am to 4 pm, hours ahead of a planned opposition march to the Supreme Court.
Which stations were closed
The affected stations were Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road, the DMRC said in a post on X. The corporation said interchange facilities at these stations remained available, and that the situation would be reviewed by security agencies with updates shared accordingly.
Why the closures were ordered
The restrictions coincided with the INDIA bloc's "Chalo Delhi - March for Democracy", led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The opposition alliance planned to march from Connaught Place toward the Supreme Court to submit a petition over alleged electoral irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, declined a request from Gandhi and Kharge for a direct meeting to submit a memorandum, citing sub-judice constraints. The CJI's office said related petitions on the electoral-roll revision were already pending before the court, with hearings scheduled for Tuesday, October 13. Following the CJI's direction, Gandhi filed a formal writ petition in the top court challenging large-scale voter deletions in the ongoing revision exercise.
Security clampdown in the capital
The metro closures were part of a wider security clampdown in the capital, which has seen days of street protests and detentions over the voter-roll revision issue. The opposition has alleged vote theft, while the Election Commission has defended the revision exercise. Journalists covering the demonstrations reported detentions despite a Supreme Court directive protecting peaceful protest coverage.
Sources: The Hindu Morning Digest: October 12, 2026, Business Today: Delhi metro closes 6 major stations ahead of Opposition's Supreme Court march
Which stations were closed
The affected stations were Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road, the DMRC said in a post on X. The corporation said interchange facilities at these stations remained available, and that the situation would be reviewed by security agencies with updates shared accordingly.
Why the closures were ordered
The restrictions coincided with the INDIA bloc's "Chalo Delhi - March for Democracy", led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The opposition alliance planned to march from Connaught Place toward the Supreme Court to submit a petition over alleged electoral irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, declined a request from Gandhi and Kharge for a direct meeting to submit a memorandum, citing sub-judice constraints. The CJI's office said related petitions on the electoral-roll revision were already pending before the court, with hearings scheduled for Tuesday, October 13. Following the CJI's direction, Gandhi filed a formal writ petition in the top court challenging large-scale voter deletions in the ongoing revision exercise.
Security clampdown in the capital
The metro closures were part of a wider security clampdown in the capital, which has seen days of street protests and detentions over the voter-roll revision issue. The opposition has alleged vote theft, while the Election Commission has defended the revision exercise. Journalists covering the demonstrations reported detentions despite a Supreme Court directive protecting peaceful protest coverage.
Sources: The Hindu Morning Digest: October 12, 2026, Business Today: Delhi metro closes 6 major stations ahead of Opposition's Supreme Court march
