The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced on Wednesday evening, 22 July that all sixteen metro stations shuttered earlier in the day across central New Delhi had been reopened for public use, hours after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) vowed to press on with its agitation at Jantar Mantar over recurring examination irregularities, including the NEET-UG paper leak. The phased reopening marks a partial easing of one of the capital's most disruptive single-day transit shutdowns in recent memory.

Phased Reopening of Stations

The DMRC carried out the reopening in stages. Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations were the first to resume normal operations, followed by Jhandewalan station. In a post on social media platform X, the DMRC confirmed: 'All stations of the Delhi Metro network are now open for passenger services.'

Throughout the day, the corporation had maintained that interchange facilities at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat would remain operational to allow passenger transfers even while full station closures were in effect — a limited concession to commuters dependent on line connections.

Which Stations Were Closed and Why

Since Wednesday morning, entry and exit gates at sixteen central Delhi stations were sealed amid heightened security deployments. The affected stations were Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, and Shivaji Stadium.

The closures were a direct response to the Jantar Mantar protest, where students, opposition leaders, and activists had gathered to demand accountability in the education system. The concentration of sensitive government and institutional buildings along this metro corridor — including Parliament and the Supreme Court — prompted authorities to take precautionary measures.

Background: The NEET Protest and Monday's Violence

The demonstrations intensified after violent clashes broke out on Monday, when scores of agitators led by the Cockroach Janta Party marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak and broader examination irregularities. The Delhi Police, which faced criticism over alleged brutality against protesters, has since assured a thorough investigation into the violence. Security in the area remains heightened.

CJP Letter to Sonam Wangchuk

In a parallel development on Wednesday, the Cockroach Janta Party wrote a letter to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, urging him to end his 25-day hunger strike — a fast that has become a focal point of the broader agitation demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the paper leak controversy. The party, however, confirmed it would not stand down from its own protest at Jantar Mantar.

What Comes Next

With the metro network restored and security still elevated, the immediate pressure point shifts back to the protest site. Whether authorities move to disperse the ongoing agitation or engage with CJP's demands around examination reform will determine how the situation evolves in the coming days.