Delhi Police Reverses Decision on Metro Station Closures for G20 Summit

DAINIK NATION BUREAU : Delhi Police has taken U turn on its earlier order about the closure of certain metro station gates in proximity to the VVIP route and venue of the upcoming G20 Summit. In a letter addressed to the Chief Security Officer of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday, the police cited “administrative grounds” for the withdrawal of their initial request.

According to Delhi Police, regular train services will be accessible at all metro stations except for the Supreme Court station. The Supreme Court station will remain closed from 5 am on September 9th until 11 pm on September 10th. The reason behind this temporary closure is the G20 Summit, which India is set to host at the newly constructed international convention and exhibition center known as Bharat Mandapam, located near the Supreme Court metro station.

Apart from the Supreme Court station, several other metro stations, including Dhaula Kuan, Khan Market, Janpath, and BHIKAJI Cama Place, are situated in sensitive areas that might experience brief gate closures due to VIP movement, as explained by a senior police official.

The initial letter dispatched to DMRC on Saturday by Delhi Police detailed the necessity of closing the gates at over 20 metro stations. This included three at Khan Market, two at Moti Bagh, and five at ITO, all part of a security measure to fortify the area from September 8th to September 10th.

“As you are aware that the G20 Summit-2023 is around the corner and we are making all possible efforts to enhance the security matrix. Hence, in order to maintain foolproof security arrangements during the upcoming summit, it is required to ensure that the gate numbers of metro stations that open towards the VVIPs route/venue of summit/place of stay may be closed from September 8 to 10,” the letter read.

The decision to withdraw the closure order indicates a balancing act between security considerations and the convenience of commuters, underscoring the dynamic nature of preparations for such high-profile international events.