In a major security and traffic management decision ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) scheduled protest at Jantar Mantar, Indian Railways has ordered a 10-hour restriction on Mail and Express train arrivals at key terminals in the national capital on Saturday, October 10.
According to an order issued by the Railway Department’s Coaching Directorate on Friday, October 9, all Mail and Express trains departing from their originating stations after 2:00 PM on Friday that were scheduled to reach New Delhi Railway Station or Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station between 4:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Saturday will stand cancelled at source.
Key Rail Restriction Highlights:
- Restriction Window: Saturday, October 10, from 4:00 AM to 2:00 PM (10 hours).
- Affected Stations: New Delhi (NDLS) and Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM).
- Cancellation Rule: Trains originating after 2:00 PM on October 9 with arrival slots inside the Saturday morning window are cancelled at the starting station.
- Official Reason: Anticipated severe road and pedestrian traffic congestion in areas surrounding major railway terminals.
While senior railway officials maintained that the operational restrictions are aimed at preventing severe citywide traffic gridlock, law enforcement sources confirm the move is part of a multi-agency effort to regulate large-scale influxes of demonstrators into central Delhi ahead of the planned agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The rail restrictions follow preemptive advisories issued to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) regarding the potential closure of entry and exit gates across 57 stations, alongside massive security deployments of over 26,000 personnel and citywide commercial restrictions.
Passengers travelling toward Delhi on October 10 are advised to verify their train status on the official NTES portal or IRCTC app before departing.