No Metro: A nightmare for Delhi commuters but protesters find a cheat code
"In someone else's fight for justice, we've become the unfortunate victims," remarked an exasperated commuter at the bus stop outside the Barakhamba Road Metro station
"In someone else's fight for justice, we've become the unfortunate victims," remarked an exasperated commuter at the bus stop outside the Barakhamba Road Metro station on Thursday evening. It was the second consecutive day when 16 Metro stations of Central Delhi were shut for commuters over the protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. The travel nightmare for lakhs of people will continue, if not increase, on Friday as 17 Metro stations have been declared shut for the day. Read Full Story Like several other Metro stations in and around Connaught Place, including Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and ITO, Barakhamba Road, outside which the exasperated person spoke to India Today Digital, had been shut by authorities, citing "security reasons". The person was among the hundreds of thousands of commuters, used to smooth travel around the city by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), who were leaving their workplaces early. The traders' association of Connaught Place had asked workplaces to close by 6:30 on Thursday. The office-goers found themselves stranded outside shuttered Metro stations, waiting for buses packed beyond capacity, autos that would not stop, and unable to book cabs due to the suspension of mobile network services. Many told India Today Digital that they weren't sure of the bus routes because they were so used to travelling by Metro. Connaught Place (CP), one of the busiest business districts of the capital, was caught in the crosshairs as thousands of protesters descended upon Jantar Mantar and the nearby areas after the police crackdown on July 20. Protesters marching to Parliament to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan allegedly faced brutal police action. India Today Digital has documented with evidence the use of pellet guns on protesters by security personnel in New Delhi. The crowding at CP began on the evening of July 21, and on July 22 (Wednesday), authorities shut 16 Metro stations across central Delhi, disrupting some of the DMRC's busiest corridors, including the Blue, Yellow and Violet lines. Barring a brief reopening of a few stations on Wednesday evening, the closures continued through July 23 (Thursday), with the DMRC announcing that the affected stations would remain shut on Friday as well. In fact, the number of stations shut on Friday was increased to 17. The official reason cited for the closures was "security reasons." Metro stations such as the one near Lok Kalyan Marg, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, Barakhamba Road, Patel Chowk, Rajiv Chowk and RK Ashram Marg were among the ones shut.
The BriefWire