Delhi Metro's Rajiv Chowk station, one of the 57 stations named in the police proposal. Photo: Superfast1111, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
New Delhi is bracing for a near-lockdown this weekend. On Friday morning, Delhi Police moved to effectively seal off large parts of the capital's transport network ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Chalo Delhi" protest planned for Saturday, October 10 — a demonstration that has already been denied permission and is expected to draw a massive security response.
The twin moves — a proposal to shut metro gates at 57 stations and a confirmed order cancelling Delhi-bound trains — mark the most sweeping pre-emptive transport restrictions the capital has seen for a protest in recent years.
What Delhi Police Has Asked DMRC to Do
In a letter dated October 8, the Joint Commissioner of Police, Transport Range, asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to consider shutting the designated entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations from 9 PM on Friday, October 9, with the restrictions to remain in place through Saturday, October 10, and "until the situation in the capital returns to normal."
According to the letter, reported by news agency ANI, "In view of proposed protests and the likelihood of unruly mob movement, Delhi Metro entry/exit gates across 57 stations may be closed from 9:00 PM on October 9 till the situation normalizes on October 10."
Police have also suggested reducing train frequency at the identified stations as a precautionary measure. The stations on the list include some of the busiest in the network: Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Janpath, New Delhi, Mandi House, ITO, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, Kashmere Gate, Karol Bagh, INA, Hauz Khas, Lajpat Nagar, Jamia Millia Islamia, Seelampur, Welcome, Shahdara, Rithala, Rohini East and Rohini West, among others.
Crucially, the final call rests with DMRC. The police communication is a proposal, not an order — the corporation had not announced its decision as of Friday morning, leaving lakhs of commuters waiting for official word.
Railways Confirms Train Cancellations for Saturday
Unlike the metro proposal, the railways' move is already an official order. Indian Railways on Friday cancelled all Mail and Express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations during a 10-hour window on Saturday, October 10.
Under the order, trains departing from their originating stations after 2 PM on October 9 and scheduled to reach either of the two stations between 4 AM and 2 PM on October 10 will be cancelled at source.
New Delhi railway station. Mail and Express trains due here between 4 AM and 2 PM on Saturday stand cancelled at source. Photo: FacetsOfNonStickPans, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The railway order cites anticipated traffic congestion around the two stations. Railway authorities have not confirmed that the CJP demonstration prompted the decision — but the timing, a day before the planned protest, has drawn widespread attention and linking reports.
Passengers booked on the affected services have been advised to check their train status and make alternative arrangements.
Why the Capital Is Locking Down
Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where the CJP has called its October 10 protest. Photo: Subeesh Balan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The CJP has called for a nationwide "Chalo Delhi" protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged mass deletion of voters.
Delhi Police has refused permission for the gathering, citing prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Police have warned that unauthorised assemblies could invite legal action, and a senior officer said no permission has been granted for any protest at Jantar Mantar, appealing to people to avoid unauthorised gatherings.
This isn't the first such confrontation. During the CJP's October 2 protest at Jantar Mantar, more than 700 protesters and political leaders — including AAP's Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjay Singh — were detained by police. Authorities closed entry and exit at 12 metro stations that day and suspended internet services in areas around the protest site. The scale of Friday's proposal — 57 stations, nearly five times that number — signals how seriously the police are taking Saturday's call.
The Security Ring Around the Capital
The transport measures sit inside a much larger security operation. More than 20,000 Delhi Police personnel and paramilitary troops have been deployed across the capital, according to a senior officer. NDTV reported that the Union Home Ministry approved the deployment of 221 companies of Central Armed Police Forces between October 8 and 12, in addition to 110 companies placed with Delhi Police — including 85 CRPF, 10 SSB, seven ITBP, seven RAF and one CISF company.
Officials have described multi-layered barricading, CCTV monitoring from a central control room, and Face Recognition System cameras installed across the national capital. Neighbouring states, including Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, have been asked to remain on alert, and railway stations and bus terminals are under surveillance.
The heavy deployment has already become political ammunition. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posted on X that it "clearly shows the level of panic and nervousness coming as it does after four days of unrelenting protests by the INDIA janbandhan," referring to the opposition bloc's own CEC protests earlier this week.
Police have appealed to protesters and the public not to indulge in violence or attack security personnel, issued specific instructions on handling women protesters, and cautioned people against believing or circulating unverified information on social media.
Why It Matters
A transport shutdown of this scale is rare — and it affects far more than protesters. Shutting gates at 57 metro stations, even partially, would disrupt the commutes of lakhs of Delhi residents on a working Saturday, while the train cancellations hit long-distance travellers with little notice. For the CJP, the lockdown is also a political message: the movement says it is being denied its constitutional right to protest, while the police insist the measures are preventive and neutral.
The standoff is the latest escalation in the running battle over the Election Commission. The CEC-SIR row has already produced four days of INDIA-bloc demonstrations in the capital this week, detentions of opposition leaders, and now a weekend that could see Delhi's streets and stations under one of the tightest security blankets in years.
What Happens Next
All eyes are on DMRC's decision on the 57-station proposal — the corporation's call will determine whether Saturday's restrictions are a full lockdown or a lighter touch. The CJP's "Chalo Delhi" mobilisation begins Saturday morning, and how many supporters actually reach the capital despite the transport curbs will be the day's real test. Delhi Police's house-arrest and detention-facility plans, including holding sites at Burari and Chhatrasal Stadium reported earlier this week, may come into play if crowds gather in defiance of the ban.
- Delhi Police has proposed closing entry/exit gates at 57 metro stations from 9 PM Friday, October 9, until the situation normalizes on October 10; DMRC's decision is still pending.
- Indian Railways has confirmed cancelling Mail and Express trains reaching New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin between 4 AM and 2 PM on Saturday, October 10.
- The measures precede the CJP's "Chalo Delhi" protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the SIR voter-roll row.
- Delhi Police has denied permission for the protest under BNSS Section 163; over 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel are deployed across the capital.
- The Union Home Ministry approved 221 CAPF companies for October 8–12, with neighbouring states on alert and surveillance at railway stations and bus terminals.
- During the CJP's October 2 protest, 700+ people were detained and 12 metro stations were closed — Saturday's proposed 57-station shutdown is far larger in scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Delhi metro stations may be closed ahead of the CJP protest?
The police proposal covers 57 stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Janpath, New Delhi, Mandi House, ITO, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, Kashmere Gate, Karol Bagh, INA, Hauz Khas, Lajpat Nagar, Jamia Millia Islamia, Seelampur, Welcome, Shahdara, Rithala, Rohini East and Rohini West. Only entry and exit gates — not necessarily full stations — are proposed for closure, with interchange facilities possibly continuing.
When would the metro restrictions start and end?
The proposed restrictions would begin at 9 PM on Friday, October 9, and remain in place through Saturday, October 10, continuing until the situation in the capital returns to normal. Whether they take effect at all depends on DMRC, which had not announced its decision as of Friday morning.
Which trains have been cancelled in Delhi on October 10?
All Mail and Express trains departing from their originating stations after 2 PM on October 9 and scheduled to arrive at New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin between 4 AM and 2 PM on October 10 have been cancelled at source under a railway order issued on Friday. The order cites anticipated traffic congestion around the two stations.
Why is the CJP protesting in Delhi on October 10?
The Cockroach Janta Party has called a nationwide "Chalo Delhi" protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the mass deletion of voters. Delhi Police has denied permission for the gathering.
How many security personnel are deployed in Delhi for the protest?
More than 20,000 Delhi Police personnel are deployed, alongside 23,000 Central Armed Police Forces troops. The Home Ministry approved 221 CAPF companies for October 8–12, plus 110 more companies for Delhi Police. Barricading is multi-layered, with CCTV and face-recognition cameras across the capital.
What happened at the CJP's last Delhi protest?
On October 2, Delhi Police detained more than 700 protesters and political leaders, including AAP's Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjay Singh, near Jantar Mantar. Authorities closed entry and exit at 12 metro stations and suspended internet services around the protest site. All detained persons were reportedly released later that day.
Is the Delhi metro closure confirmed?
No. The metro gate closures are a police proposal to DMRC, not a confirmed order — the final decision rests with the corporation. The train cancellations, by contrast, are a confirmed railway order. Commuters should check official DMRC announcements before travelling on Friday night and Saturday.
Sources
- Mathrubhumi English — "Delhi-bound trains cancelled before CJP protest; Railways cites traffic congestion" (October 9, 2026): english.mathrubhumi.com
- ABP Live — "Delhi Metro May Seal Off 57 Stations Tonight Before Saturday's CJP Rally At Jantar Mantar" (October 9, 2026): news.abplive.com
- ANI (via ABP Live) — Delhi Police letter to DMRC, October 9, 2026
- The News Mill — "Delhi Police proposes closures at 57 metro stations ahead of October 10 protest" (October 9, 2026): thenewsmill.com
- NDTV — "23,000 Personnel, Barricading: Delhi Preps For CJP's Saturday Protest" (October 8, 2026): ndtv.com
- Scroll.in — CJP October 2 protest coverage (700+ detentions, 12 metro stations closed)