Politics · India Bureau
Indian Railways cancels 250+ trains ahead of Delhi protest
The Railway Board has cancelled over 250 trains connecting major New Delhi stations in anticipation of a political demonstration scheduled for October 10. The move has sparked criticism from passenger advocacy groups and railway observers over widespread travel disruption.
LSN India ·
Indian Railways announced the cancellation of more than 250 trains operating from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations on October 9-10, citing security and crowd management concerns related to a planned protest in the national capital. The cancellations cover services scheduled to depart after 2 pm on October 9, as well as trains arriving at the two major stations between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10.
The Cockroach Janta Party has organised the demonstration to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In response, the Railway Board preemptively suspended both long-distance and local train services, encompassing departures from the originating stations and arrivals at the two designated hubs.
The decision has drawn significant backlash from passenger advocacy groups and railway experts, who contend that the scale of cancellations represents an excessive precautionary measure. Critics argue that the move inconveniences thousands of commuters and sets a problematic precedent for railway operations during periods of civic unrest.
The Railway Board has not publicly detailed the specific security assessments that prompted the mass cancellations, nor has it announced alternative arrangements for affected passengers. Rail authorities typically coordinate with local administration on such measures during anticipated large-scale demonstrations.