All Delhi Metro Stations Reopen as Student‑Led CJP Protest Ends

Early Sunday morning commuters breathed a sigh of relief when the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) posted on X that every station – entry and exit alike – is now open for passengers. The message was brief, but the impact was huge for thousands who had been navigating detours for the past four days.

The closures began in mid‑June when the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a student‑driven outfit, set up a sit‑in at Jantar Mantar. Their demand? The resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive exams, especially the NEET leak scandal. The protest swelled, and by the weekend roughly 17‑18 stations in central Delhi were shut each day.

Names like Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Mandi House, Supreme Court, ITO and New Delhi were among those that remained inaccessible. While interchange corridors stayed functional, the lack of entry and exit points forced daily travelers onto crowded buses and rickshaws.

Everything changed after Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday evening. In a statement he said the events of the past ten days had “deeply saddened” him and that the issue was “not a matter of personal prestige.” His exit seemed to unlock the deadlock.

Within hours, the CJP – now led by Abhijeet Dipke – declared the protest over. The group said the government had acceded to its remaining demands: dropping FIRs against the protesters and providing compensation to families of students who allegedly took their own lives after the NEET paper leak. The sit‑in at Jantar Mantar, which started on June 20, finally wound down.

One of the movement’s most visible faces, activist Sonam Wangchuk, had been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28. He ended his fast late on July 23 after senior officials reached out, marking a symbolic end to the standoff.

With the protest withdrawn, the DMRC re‑opened the list of stations that had been sealed: Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, New Delhi, Delhi Gate, Jor Bagh and several others. Passengers can now board and alight without the previous restrictions.

Meanwhile, the government is pushing a new bill aimed at curbing paper leaks. The draft proposes a minimum five‑year jail term – up to ten years – and fines of up to ₹50 lakh for anyone caught using “unfair means” in exams. Fast‑track courts are also slated to speed up trials.

For now, the capital’s commuters can once again rely on the metro’s extensive network, and the city breathes a little easier after a tense week of protests and political reshuffling.