Delhi Metro shuts 6 central stations till 4 pm amid INDIA bloc Supreme Court march
Synopsis
Delhi came to a near-standstill on Monday morning as the DMRC shut six central metro stations and traffic police flagged 30 disruption points — all ahead of the INDIA bloc's march to the Supreme Court demanding action on electoral roll irregularities. The closures follow an even larger 45-station shutdown two days earlier, raising questions about the frequency and scale of protest-linked metro disruptions in the capital.
Key Takeaways
The DMRC suspended entry and exit at six central Delhi metro stations from 6 am to 4 pm on 12 October 2026 , citing security concerns.
Interchange facilities remain available at all six affected stations.
The Delhi Traffic Police identified disruptions at approximately 30 locations across the capital.
The Congress-led INDIA bloc is marching to the Supreme Court over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar .
Two days earlier, 45 metro stations were shut during a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) .
Rahul Gandhi alleged on X that youth protesters were assaulted by police and BJP workers during a Sunday demonstration in Delhi.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) suspended entry and exit facilities at six metro stations in central Delhi from 6 am to 4 pm on Monday, 12 October 2026, citing security concerns, as the Congress-led INDIA bloc prepares to march towards the Supreme Court over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revision. The Delhi Traffic Police simultaneously issued a sweeping advisory warning commuters of likely congestion and diversions at around 30 locations across the national capital.
DMRC Statement and Station Restrictions
In a post on social media platform X, the DMRC said: 'Due to security reasons, the entry and exit at the following metro stations will remain closed from 06:00 AM till 04:00 PM on 12th October, 2026. Further the situation will be reviewed by the security agencies and necessary updates will be shared accordingly. However, interchange facility will remain available at all the concerned metro stations.' The corporation confirmed that while entry and exit are suspended, passengers may still use the affected stations for interchange between lines, limiting — but not eliminating — connectivity for central Delhi commuters.
Traffic Disruptions Across Delhi-NCR
The Delhi Traffic Police advisory flagged heightened security arrangements, metro restrictions, and the residual impact of overnight rainfall as a triple pressure on road travel, particularly during the morning office rush. Diversions and restrictions have been identified at approximately 30 locations, spanning key arterial junctions including Shankar Road-Vande Mataram T-Point, Dhaula Kuan Flyover, Jhandewalan roundabout, Panchkuian roundabout, Mandi House roundabout, Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg intersection, and the Chelmsford Road-Outer Circle Connaught Place T-Point.
Further disruptions are expected near the Lodhi Road Flyover, Neela Gumbad roundabout, Bhikaji Cama Place and Moti Bagh flyovers, Ashoka Road-Jantar Mantar Road roundabout, Rail Bhawan roundabout, and the RML Hospital roundabout, among others. The police urged motorists to 'avoid non-essential travel through affected areas, follow diversion signs and directions of traffic personnel, and cooperate with Delhi Traffic Police to ensure smooth traffic movement.'
Why the INDIA Bloc Is Marching
The proposed march is directed at the Supreme Court and centres on opposition demands over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, as well as calls for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Leaders from several INDIA bloc constituent parties are expected to participate in the demonstration.
Notably, this is the second consecutive day of large-scale metro and traffic restrictions tied to political protests in the capital. Two days earlier, authorities had temporarily shuttered 45 metro stations in connection with a demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) — a significantly broader closure than Monday's action.
Rahul Gandhi Alleges Police Action Against Protesters
Ahead of the march, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi shared a video on X alleging that young participants in a peaceful protest in Delhi on Sunday were assaulted by police personnel and workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Gandhi said: 'Yesterday, the nation's young came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons. This is not the India we want.' The allegations have not been independently verified, and neither the police nor the BJP has issued an immediate public response to the claims.
What Commuters Should Expect
Commuters in central Delhi are advised to check DMRC updates for the specific list of closed stations and to plan alternate routes. The situation at affected metro stations is under review by security agencies, with further updates to be issued as conditions change. With the march scheduled for Monday and restrictions in place through 4 pm, peak-hour disruption is expected to ease in the afternoon — though the resolution of the protest itself will determine whether restrictions are extended.
Point of View
Six today — signal a capital increasingly accustomed to protest-driven paralysis, but the scale differential is worth scrutinising: the INDIA bloc march triggered a far more targeted closure than the CJP protest, raising questions about how security agencies calibrate these decisions. The core demand — action on SIR electoral roll irregularities and the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner — strikes at the credibility of the election machinery itself, which means the Supreme Court march is as much about optics and legal pressure as street mobilisation. Rahul Gandhi's unverified allegation of police-BJP coordination in assaulting protesters, if it gains traction, could shift the political narrative from electoral reform to civil liberties. The government's silence on that allegation, even briefly, is a communication gap that opposition strategists will exploit.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Delhi Metro stations are closed on 12 October 2026?
The DMRC suspended entry and exit at six metro stations in central Delhi from 6 am to 4 pm on 12 October 2026 due to security concerns linked to the INDIA bloc protest march. Interchange facilities remain operational at all six affected stations, though the DMRC has not publicly listed each station name beyond the post on X.
Why is the INDIA bloc marching to the Supreme Court?
The INDIA bloc march is directed at the Supreme Court over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and opposition parties are demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Leaders from several constituent parties of the bloc are expected to take part in the demonstration.
How many locations are affected by Delhi traffic diversions on 12 October?
The Delhi Traffic Police identified approximately 30 locations across the national capital where traffic disruptions, diversions, or heightened security arrangements are expected. Key junctions include Dhaula Kuan Flyover, Mandi House roundabout, Jhandewalan roundabout, and the Lodhi Road Flyover, among others.
What did Rahul Gandhi allege ahead of the INDIA bloc march?
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi shared a video on X alleging that young protesters who participated in a peaceful Delhi demonstration on Sunday were physically assaulted by police personnel and BJP workers. The allegations have not been independently verified, and the police and BJP have not issued an immediate public response.
How does Monday's metro closure compare to the previous shutdown?
Monday's closure of six central Delhi metro stations is significantly smaller in scale than the shutdown two days earlier, when 45 stations were temporarily closed in connection with a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Both closures were ordered citing security concerns related to political demonstrations.
