NEW DELHI: Commuters were left stranded and frustrated on Wednesday after 16 Delhi metro stations were closed due to security reasons amid the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest in central Delhi, with several passengers questioning how they would reach work on time.A video shared by news agency PTI showed commuters waiting inside Mandi House Metro station as security personnel restricted exits. Many were seen arguing with DMRC officials and police personnel, seeking clarity on when they would be allowed to leave.“Who will be responsible if we lose our jobs?” one commuter asked in the video.Others were heard saying, “We have been stuck here for more than half an hour”, “What is the sense of all this?”, “Tell us who should we talk to”, and “Let us talk to the responsible officer.” One commuter also said, “Mera to office bhi yahi hai (My office is nearby).”The video also captured people saying that slogans were being raised at the station while officials repeatedly indicated that they had no further information about when normal movement would resume.Earlier in the day, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that 16 stations had been closed till further notice due to security reasons. The affected stations are Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh and Shivaji Stadium.DMRC said interchange facilities would remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat despite the closures.The closures came amid heightened security in central Delhi as the CJP’s sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar entered its third day following Monday’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, which witnessed clashes between protesters and police near Parliament.The party has said it will continue its agitation until Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
