October 10 CJP protest in Delhi: Trains cancelled, 57 metro stations to be shut

Delhi is set to witness extensive travel restrictions and heightened security on Saturday, October 10, ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of vote theft.

Indian Railways has cancelled train services arriving at and departing from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday, citing anticipated road congestion around the stations. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to close 57 metro stations from 9 pm on Friday, October 9, amid concerns over the movement of protesters.

The national capital will also see heightened security, with more than 23,000 personnel expected to be deployed.

Permission denied for CJP protest

The Delhi Police has denied permission for the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10, reportedly citing the failure to provide the mandatory 10-day advance notice. Officials also referred to alleged violations of guidelines during an earlier protest and said the decision was taken in the interest of public safety.

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which empowers authorities to issue orders to prevent potential disturbances, is in force in parts of central Delhi. The police have warned that violations of the restrictions could invite legal action.

The proposed protest comes amid demonstrations by opposition parties against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over explosive allegations of electoral malpractice and demands for his resignation.

57 metro stations face restrictions

The Delhi Police has requested the DMRC to close 57 metro stations from 9 pm on Friday until further notice on Saturday, citing the possibility of large crowds moving towards sensitive locations.

In a letter issued on Thursday, Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport) Rajneesh Gupta said that the frequency of metro trains passing through the affected stations could also be reduced on October 10, depending on the situation.

The stations include major interchange points and locations across central and other parts of the city, such as Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, New Delhi, Patel Chowk, Janpath, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, INA, Hauz Khas, Azadpur, Jamia Millia Islamia, Shaheen Bagh, Welcome and Rohini West.

The restrictions are expected to affect commuters travelling through central Delhi and other parts of the national capital. Passengers have been advised to check the latest DMRC updates before beginning their journeys.

Train services cancelled for 10 hours

Northern Railway has confirmed that train services arriving at and departing from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations will remain suspended from 4 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyaya, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway, confirmed the cancellations, citing anticipated traffic congestion around the two stations.

According to the railway authorities, mail and express trains scheduled to depart from their originating stations after 2 pm on Friday and arrive at New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday will be cancelled at their source.

Railway officials said the decision was intended to minimise inconvenience to passengers amid the anticipated disruption. They also advised passengers to check their train status before leaving for the station.

In situations when trains cannot reach their designated stations because of congestion, services may be short-terminated at major stations in nearby areas, officials said.

Deployment of security personnel

According to reports, the Union Home Ministry has approved the deployment of 221 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) between October 8 and 12, in addition to 110 companies provided to the Delhi Police.

The deployment includes 85 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 10 of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), seven of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), seven of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and one company of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Security arrangements will include multiple layers of barricading and surveillance through CCTV cameras monitored from control rooms. Facial Recognition System cameras are also expected to be installed at various locations across the city.

Neighbouring states, including Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, have been asked to remain alert during the protest period.