Travel across central Delhi was thrown into disarray on Monday after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) temporarily shut five metro stations as part of heightened security arrangements ahead of a planned march towards Parliament by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The decision caused widespread inconvenience, with office-goers, students and other commuters forced to look for alternate routes.

In an update posted on social media, the DMRC announced that Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth metro stations would remain closed until further notice due to security requirements.

The impact was immediately visible at Rajiv Chowk, one of the busiest interchange stations in the capital, where large crowds gathered outside locked entry and exit gates after finding the station inaccessible.

At Patel Chowk, security personnel were deployed in large numbers to manage the situation as people attempted to move towards the protest venue at Jantar Mantar. Videos circulating online showed some passengers trying to cross barricades and climb over locked gates after normal access was restricted.

Outside Janpath station, commuters waited for updates while police and metro officials monitored the situation. Many were left confused after reaching the station only to discover that entry had been suspended.

"I started early to avoid the usual rush, but now I'll have to walk to another station, which will delay me by at least half an hour," said office-goer Amit Sharma.

College student Riya Verma said she and her classmates initially had no idea why the station had been shut. "The gates were closed when we arrived, and nobody knew what was happening. We're now searching for another way to reach college," she said.

With several stations out of service, many passengers relied on navigation apps, contacted family members or colleagues, and sought guidance from metro staff and police officers. Others switched to buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws, while many chose to walk to the nearest operational metro station.

The precautionary closures, implemented ahead of the planned protest, significantly affected travel across key parts of central Delhi and led to delays for thousands of daily commuters.