25% of daily ridership at stake: Why SC’s Delhi Metro directive offers relief to lakhs of commuters

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) received a directive from the Supreme Court to prevent a complete shutdown of metro services in the capital following a looming protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The court emphasized the severity of widespread closures, which could severely impact a transport network that handles millions of passenger journeys daily.

The 57 stations targeted by the proposed closures account for a significant portion of the Delhi Metro network, potentially disrupting multiple high-ridership corridors, including the Yellow Line, Blue Line, and Red Line. The Yellow Line's closure of 17 stations, particularly along the Samaypur Badli to Millennium City Centre route, would represent the most substantial impact, as it carries a significant share of network traffic, with 18 lakh passengers using it on an average day.

The Blue Line, connecting Delhi with Noida, and the Red Line, running between Rithala and Ghaziabad, would also face closures, affecting around 21% and 10% of Delhi Metro's passenger journeys, respectively. The Pink Line, the network's orbital corridor, would see additional restrictions at stations critical to its operation, potentially limiting commuters' ability to switch lines even where services continued to operate.

The court's directive aims to strike a balance between the protesters' demands and the need to maintain essential transport services for the city's commuters.