DMRC apologizes to Supreme Court over metro station restrictions

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has filed an unconditional apology with the Supreme Court regarding the closure of metro stations during protests held on October 10. DMRC Chairperson Ms. D. Tara expressed respect for the court while clarifying that the entire network was not shut down.

According to the DMRC affidavit, out of 303 total stations, 258 remained operational for passengers. Restrictions on entry and exit were applied to only 45 stations, approximately 15 percent of the network, based on assessments and instructions from law enforcement agencies. The DMRC noted that interchange facilities at major hubs like Rajiv Chowk, Kashmiri Gate, and Central Secretariat remained available.

The protests, organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CAJPA) and student groups at Jantar Mantar, were related to alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's functioning. While the Supreme Court had previously directed that there should be no total halt to metro operations or trains entering the capital, the DMRC reported that passenger numbers dropped to 32 lakh on the day of the protest, compared to a typical Saturday average of 58 lakh.