New Delhi, 09 October (H.S.):

In view of the proposed protest scheduled for October 10 in Delhi, the Delhi Police has asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to make arrangements for closing the entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations from 9 PM on Friday. The police has also requested that the restrictions remain in force on Saturday until the situation returns to normal. However, no official decision to close the station gates has been announced yet.

In a letter written on Thursday to DMRC Managing Director Vikas Kumar, Rajnish Gupta, Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport Range), requested the corporation to take the necessary measures at the stations concerned. The letter also suggested considering a reduction in the frequency of metro train services passing through these stations.

According to the police, the precautionary measure has been proposed in view of the planned protests at Jantar Mantar and other locations in New Delhi district, as well as the possibility of crowds moving towards sensitive areas. The protest has been called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The 57 metro stations where potential restrictions have been proposed include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Seva Tirth (Udyog Bhawan), Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, ITO, Delhi Gate, Khan Market, RK Ashram Marg, Jhandewalan, Supreme Court, Indraprastha and Shivaji Stadium.

The list also includes INA (on both metro lines), Hauz Khas, Jor Bagh, Arjan Garh, Sarai Kale Khan–Nizamuddin, Lajpat Nagar, Jangpura, Ashram, Kalindi Kunj, Jasola, Jamia Millia Islamia, Okhla Vihar, Chawri Bazar, Jama Masjid, Karol Bagh, Rajendra Place and Kashmere Gate.

Among the stations in North and Northeast Delhi included in the list are Vishwavidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha, Civil Lines, Inderlok, GTB Nagar, Kanhaiya Nagar, Netaji Subhash Place, Azadpur, Adarsh Nagar, Jahangirpuri, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Majlis Park, Shalimar Bagh, Seelampur, Maujpur, Jaffrabad, Welcome, Yamuna Vihar, Khajuri Khas, Shahdara, Rithala, Rohini East and Rohini West.

The police has asked the DMRC to issue the necessary instructions to the officials and employees concerned and take appropriate measures depending on the prevailing situation. The proposed arrangements are intended to regulate crowd movement towards sensitive locations during the protests and maintain public order.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar