On Monday evening, Delhi Metro commuters received a rude shock when they found that the Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course Metro stations had been closed by the Delhi police, as a precautionary measure, following protests against the gang rape of a five-year-old in the city.
While the Udyog Bhawan and Central Secretariat stations were closed after 10 am on Monday, the Race Course Metro station had been shut down on Sunday evening, following protests outside the Prime Minister's residence.
Commuters complained of harassment and said that the authorities had closed the stations without issuing any prior notice. ‘If I knew that the Metro station would be closed, I would have made alternate travel plans,' said KK Ahuja, a commuter who was stranded at the Central Secretariat station. Other commuters too were left in the lurch when they found their nearest Metro stations closed.
A woman commuter said, ‘Some of us were able to walk to other nearby stations that were operating, but what about those who are physically handicapped', adding, ‘Last year during the protest against the 16 December gang rape, metro stations that had been shut down were re-opened for commuters after 5pm.'
A Metro official later said, ‘All the stations were reopened at 5.40 pm.’
While the Udyog Bhawan and Central Secretariat stations were closed after 10 am on Monday, the Race Course Metro station had been shut down on Sunday evening, following protests outside the Prime Minister's residence.
Commuters complained of harassment and said that the authorities had closed the stations without issuing any prior notice. ‘If I knew that the Metro station would be closed, I would have made alternate travel plans,' said KK Ahuja, a commuter who was stranded at the Central Secretariat station. Other commuters too were left in the lurch when they found their nearest Metro stations closed.
A woman commuter said, ‘Some of us were able to walk to other nearby stations that were operating, but what about those who are physically handicapped', adding, ‘Last year during the protest against the 16 December gang rape, metro stations that had been shut down were re-opened for commuters after 5pm.'
A Metro official later said, ‘All the stations were reopened at 5.40 pm.’