Several trains were cancelled in New Delhi on Saturday, 10 October amid heightened security arrangements for the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, leaving passengers scrambling to rework travel plans at short notice. The disruptions hit routes across the capital, with particular impact on services running through Jaunpur and connecting northern India.

Trains Cancelled, Passengers Caught Off Guard

Among the cancelled services were the Tapti Ganga Express and the Kashi Vishwanath Express, both of which operate via Jaunpur. One affected traveller said he had been unaware of the cancellations until he arrived at the station. 'Trains have been cancelled today. These include trains running via Jaunpur, such as the Tapti Ganga and Kashi Vishwanath Express. They have been cancelled. Now, I will travel from here to Lucknow and change trains there. If I don't get a train, I will take a bus. I was not aware that today's trains had been cancelled,' the passenger said.

A second traveller, who had come from Gujarat and needed to reach Ghaziabad, described being stranded at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station after no connecting trains were available. 'I came from Gujarat and had to go to Ghaziabad, but my ticket was for New Delhi. I thought I would get off at Hazrat Nizamuddin and catch a local train to Ghaziabad. However, when I got off at Nizamuddin, no trains were available. I had to take a rickshaw to reach New Delhi, but there were no trains from here either,' he said.

Some Services Operated Normally

Not all travellers reported disruptions. A passenger arriving at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station said his train arrived on time and the journey was uneventful. 'We didn't face any problems. We travelled very comfortably by train. There was some apprehension at night, but we were allowed to enter easily in the morning, so there was no problem,' he said. He added that a general fear of being stopped at Delhi's entry points had dissipated by morning.

Security Tightened Across Delhi

Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed at railway stations and other sensitive locations across the capital ahead of the CJP demonstration against the Chief Election Commissioner. Security patrols were conducted on the ground, while drones were deployed to monitor the situation from the air. The arrangements were described as unprecedented in scale.

Reactions on the Ground

Amid the protest, some residents expressed support for law enforcement. A cyclist who identified himself as an environmentalist and marathon runner said he had decided to head towards Jantar Mantar after learning about the protest, intending to assist Delhi Police in maintaining order in the capital.

The combination of train cancellations and a heavy security footprint underscores the logistical strain large-scale protests place on a city as densely connected as Delhi. Authorities said they would remain on alert through the day as the demonstration continued to unfold.