Delhi imposes major travel curbs ahead of Saturday’s anti-CEC protest
New Delhi: Authorities have imposed sweeping travel restrictions in Delhi ahead of a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, cancelling trains and seeking the closure of dozens of metro stations.
The Indian Railways has cancelled all mail and express trains scheduled to reach New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Trains scheduled to depart from their originating stations after 2 p.m. on Friday have also been cancelled.
The Railways said the decision was taken in view of expected traffic congestion around the two stations.
The Delhi Police have also asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to close entry and exit gates at 57 stations from 9 p.m. on Friday until the situation returns to normal on Saturday. The force has further suggested reducing train frequency at these stations, citing the possibility of large crowds.
The stations identified include Lok Kalyan Marg, near the Prime Minister’s residence, and Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk and Janpath, which are close to the protest venue. The Delhi Metro has not yet said whether it will implement the request.
Police have denied permission for the protest and said those participating could face legal action. Around 23,000 security personnel are expected to be deployed in the capital, while 7,000 Central Reserve Police Force personnel are being brought in from West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against the train cancellations, the proposed metro station closures and the alleged suspension of internet services in Delhi.
The protest is part of a broader Opposition campaign demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The demand intensified after a report by The Indian Express said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected 14 times in 10 months to decisions taken by the poll panel in connection with the SIR. The report claimed that some decisions were taken without the knowledge of the two commissioners.
The objections reportedly concerned changes to Form 6, used for registering new voters, appeals over voter inclusion in West Bengal and the handling of voter data in Goa. The commissioners also raised concerns about access to the digital electoral roll database.
The SIR exercise, which began in June 2025, has faced criticism over its pace and implementation, with Opposition parties alleging that it could affect the voting rights of genuine electors.
Kumar has not publicly responded to the allegations. The Election Commission, however, has said that queries and inputs raised by its members during the draft stage were part of standard administrative practice aimed at protecting voter rights.