Sixteen Delhi Metro Stations Shut as Protestors Crowd Jantar Mantar

Wednesday, July 22, 2026, turned unusually quiet for commuters in New Delhi. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced, via its X account, that sixteen stations would remain closed “for security reasons” after a large‑scale sit‑in at Jantar Mantar escalated.

The protest, branding itself as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged leaks of the NEET‑UG question paper. What began as a march on Monday, July 20, quickly built into a prolonged occupation of the historic observatory, prompting authorities to take precautionary steps.

Here’s the full list of stations that were halted:

• 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
• Shivaji Stadium

Noticeably, three major interchange hubs – Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat – continued to operate, allowing passengers to transfer between lines even though the stations themselves were not serving boarding or alighting traffic.

DMRC’s statement was brief, simply citing “security concerns” and urging commuters to plan alternate routes. The decision aligns with the city’s broader effort to keep the protest from spilling over into the metro system, which is a lifeline for millions of daily travelers.

While the protest has drawn attention to exam‑paper integrity, the public’s immediate worry is getting home. Bus services, auto‑rickshaws and even private car‑pools have seen a spike in demand as people navigate around the closed stations.

Authorities have not indicated a timeline for reopening. For now, commuters are left waiting, watching the news, and hoping the sit‑in resolves without further disruption to the city’s transit arteries.