Daily transit for thousands of commuters in the national capital came to a grinding halt as metro authorities suspended the crucial interchange facility at the New Delhi Metro Station. This decision, driven by heightened security concerns surrounding the ongoing student agitations, follows the restrictional shutdown of several other major transit points across the city and is set to remain active until further notice.
Transit Routes Severed for Commuters
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) completely blocked passengers from switching lines at the highly active New Delhi junction on Friday. This security measure prevents travelers from accessing key connecting routes to major hubs like Rajiv Chowk, leaving daily commuters and officegoers stranded. Just a day prior on Thursday, DMRC had announced extensive exit restrictions at 17 other stations due to protests organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) against alleged discrepancies in the NEET-UG medical entrance examination.
Over a Dozen Stations Face Restrictions
Earlier in the week, multiple stations had their exit gates locked to maintain law and order. The list of affected locations includes Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, Lok Kalyan Marg, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium, and Jhandewalan. While interchange facilities were initially permitted at major junctions such as Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat to ease commuter flow, the fresh suspension at New Delhi Metro Station has severely crippled the network's overall connectivity.
Demands for Education Minister's Resignation
The massive disruption stems from a nationwide call for peaceful demonstrations scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2026. The CJP is demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing the massive controversy surrounding the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 exam paper. Through a digital poster shared on social platform X, the political group urged student bodies, youth organisations, and the general public to unite for the demonstration, emphasizing the need for mutual coordination to secure necessary administrative permissions and maintain order.
Deadlock Over Dialogue Between Government and Students
While the central government on Thursday expressed its readiness to hold discussions with protesting student representatives, a formal meeting remains elusive. The CJP clarified that they have not received any official communication or formal invitation from the administration yet. The political outfit reiterated that they remain fully prepared to sit down for negotiations, suggesting either Jantar Mantar or any mutually agreed neutral location to resolve the issue and address the grievances of the students.
