Soon after Delhi University announced that it would be reverting to the three-year undergraduate programme, four metro stations — Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course — were closed to prevent any protests or celebrations over the issue. The sudden closure left commuters clueless. The Central Secretariat station remained open for interchange facility but the exit doors for the commuters were closed. This led to commotion at the exit doors of the station.
“I am late and there is a long queue now. My office is just outside the station. I have wasted nearly half an hour here, arguing with these authorities to let me out,” said a staff working at Krishi Bhawan.
Some commuters headed for hospitals in the vicinity had to face a lot of problem. Worst affected were college students. A student, who wanted to exit the Central Secretariat station, was asked to show an identity proof. “When I showed them my college I-card, they out rightly refused to let me exit the station,” explained a college student who is interning with one of the media houses at Parliament Street.
Others were agitated at the callous attitude of the authorities. “There is a way to communicate. This is not how they should talk to people. I told them that I am not going to protest here, but in vain,” commented a college student who had come to meet her mother working at Shastri Bhawan.
(With inputs from A.R. Rakshitha)
Commuters had a tough time for two hours
Delhi Metro commuters had a tough time on Friday when four stations were shut down for nearly two hours due to a protest by IAS aspirants against changes made in the civil services examination pattern. Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhavan and Race Course stations on the Jehangirpuri – Huda City Centre Line were closed for close to two hours. While all the four stations were reopened later, Race Course station was again closed at 5 p.m.
“As advised by Delhi Police, four metro stations were closed for the public from 11.18 a.m. till 1.12 p.m. However, interchange facilities were available at the Central Secretariat station. The Race Course station was closed again at 5 p.m.” a Metro spokesperson said.
