Indian Railways has cancelled all Mail and Express trains due to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday, October 10, as the capital braces for a planned protest at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police have also asked the Delhi Metro to consider shutting entry and exit gates at 57 stations from 9 pm on Friday, October 9, and have denied permission for the demonstration.
If you are travelling to or within Delhi this weekend, here is what has been cancelled, what may be restricted and how to plan your journey.
Which trains are cancelled?
According to the Railway Ministry, Mail and Express trains that leave their originating station after 2 pm on Friday, October 9, and are scheduled to reach New Delhi (NDLS) or Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM) between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday have been cancelled at source. The railways called it a "precautionary step" to avoid passengers being stranded at the two terminals without onward road transport, after about 5,000 passengers reportedly missed their trains on Thursday because of traffic jams.
Eastern Railway separately announced that two premium trains due to start on Friday have been cancelled:
- 12301 Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express
- 12313 Sealdah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Several other services linked to the two Delhi stations are also affected. Railways has not published a single consolidated list, so passengers should check their individual train status.
Delhi Metro: what we know
The Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport Range) wrote to DMRC Managing Director Vikas Kumar on Thursday asking the corporation to consider closing entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations from 9 pm on Friday until the situation normalises, and to reduce train frequency at selected stations. Stations named in the police request include Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Janpath, New Delhi, Mandi House, ITO, Supreme Court, Khan Market and Kashmere Gate, among others.
At the time of writing, the exact list of stations that will actually be closed depends on DMRC's final instructions, so commuters should check DMRC's official app and social media handles before heading out.
Travel advisory at a glance
| Train cancellation window | 4 am to 2 pm, Saturday, October 10 |
| Stations affected | New Delhi (NDLS), Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM) |
| Trains cancelled at source | Mail/Express leaving after 2 pm on Oct 9 and due in the window |
| Rajdhanis cancelled | 12301 Howrah and 12313 Sealdah (Oct 9 departures) |
| Metro restrictions sought | Gates at 57 stations, from 9 pm Friday |
| Prohibitory order | Section 163 BNSS in New Delhi area |
| Security deployment | About 23,000 police and CRPF personnel (reported) |
Why is Delhi on alert?
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for a youth-led protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition INDIA bloc parties have been holding their own protests in Delhi all week on the same issue.
Delhi Police denied permission for the CJP protest. Joint Commissioner Nupur Prasad cited the late application, filed on October 7 when guidelines require ten days' notice, along with the group's alleged non-compliance with conditions at an earlier protest and concerns over public safety and traffic. The Delhi High Court on Friday also declined an urgent hearing on the Indian Youth Congress's plea to protest at Jantar Mantar, saying it would take up the matter on Monday.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which bars gatherings of more than five people, is in force in the New Delhi area. Police have tightened checks at Delhi's borders and are monitoring railway stations, airports and social media calls for gatherings. CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke has said several activists were detained ahead of the protest.
How to plan your travel
- Check your train status on the NTES app, IRCTC or by calling 139 before leaving home. Cancelled trains are generally eligible for an automatic full refund on e-tickets.
- Consider alternative stations such as Anand Vihar Terminal or Delhi Sarai Rohilla if your train is not affected, but confirm the schedule first.
- Avoid central Delhi around Jantar Mantar, Janpath, Connaught Place and Tolstoy Marg on Saturday morning, where barricades are already up.
- Follow DMRC and Delhi Traffic Police updates for real-time information on station closures and diversions.
- Leave extra time if you are heading to the airport or a hospital, and keep a backup plan for road transport.
What happens next
Train services into New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin are expected to resume after 2 pm on Saturday, and metro restrictions are to be lifted once police judge the situation to have normalised. Meanwhile, INDIA bloc MPs are scheduled to meet on Friday afternoon at Samvidhan Sadan to decide their next steps in the campaign against the Election Commission. ViralDose will update this story as DMRC and the railways issue fresh advisories.
Comments (0)