Metro stations near Parliament shut

A day after an Anna Hazare supporter breached security to enter the Parliament complex, three Delhi Metro stations in the vicinity were shut from 4pm on Saturday.

A day after an Anna Hazare supporter breached security to enter the Parliament complex, three Delhi Metro stations in the vicinity were shut from 4pm on Saturday.

HT Image

Delhi Metro officials said the step was in line with orders of the Delhi Police which requested that the Udyog Bhawan, Central Secretariat and Patel Chowk Metro stations on the Huda City Centre-Jahangirpuri corridor be closed for public use.

“The police had ordered closure due to security reasons, in accordance with which the said stations were shut between 4pm and 7.05 pm. Meanwhile, services on all other lines and routes was normal,” said the official.

The Parliament was debating the Lokpal Bill on Saturday and police sources said they had intelligence inputs that protesters could take out a massive rally in the area.

“Besides Parliament, the Metro stations are also in the vicinity of the prime minister’s residence,” said a police officer. Access to the Parliament from major roads such as Raisina Road, Red Cross Road, Parliament Street, Church Road and Motilal Nehru Marg, which have been the hub of protests in the last three days, was also restricted by means of police barricading.