CJP Protest: All 17 Delhi Metro stations reopen after day of closures, commuters finally get relief

Normal services resumed across the Delhi Metro network on Wednesday evening after all 17 stations that had been closed for security reasons were reopened. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) confirmed that passenger movement had returned to normal following a day of restrictions linked to the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in central Delhi.

In an update shared on X, the DMRC said that all stations on the network were once again open for passenger services. Earlier in the evening, it had also announced the reopening of entry gates at Mandi House and Central Secretariat stations, followed by the reopening of entry and exit gates at Jhandewalan Metro station.

The reopening came as a relief for thousands of office-goers, students and other commuters who had spent much of the day navigating diversions, longer travel times and unexpected route changes.

Which metro stations were affected during the restrictions?

The security measures initially covered 16 stations across key parts of central Delhi before expanding to include Jhandewalan station later in the afternoon, taking the total number of affected stations to 17.

The stations impacted during the day were:

While entry and exit remained suspended at these locations, interchange facilities continued to function at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat, allowing passengers to switch lines where required.

How did the closures affect daily commuters?

Although trains continued to run on most routes, they skipped the closed stations, leaving many passengers stranded or forcing them to travel beyond their intended destinations before finding alternate transport.

The restrictions disrupted regular commuting patterns during peak hours, with travellers relying on buses, auto-rickshaws, taxis and longer walking routes to complete their journeys. For many, the sudden closures resulted in additional travel time and uncertainty, particularly in the busy commercial and administrative districts of central Delhi.

Central Secretariat station also witnessed heightened activity as protesters gathered near one of the exits, with several participants raising slogans including "Vande Mataram".

The metro restrictions stem from the ongoing protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been holding demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and had earlier called for a march towards Parliament over alleged examination irregularities.

The first round of station closures was implemented on Monday after thousands of protesters converged in central Delhi in response to the march call. Wednesday marked another day of extensive security arrangements, making it the second major disruption within the same week for Delhi Metro commuters.

Authorities imposed the temporary closures as part of crowd management and security measures in sensitive areas of the city while allowing trains to continue operating through affected stretches without halting at the stations.

What happens next for Delhi Metro services?

With the reopening of all 17 stations, Delhi Metro operations have returned to normal across the network. The DMRC has advised passengers to continue checking official service updates before travelling, particularly if security arrangements are revised in response to developments linked to the ongoing CJP demonstrations.

For now, commuters can once again board and exit trains at all stations after a day that highlighted how large scale protests in central Delhi can quickly ripple across the capital's public transport network.