Chakka Jam: The entry and exit gates at several Delhi metro stations were closed.
The entry and exit gates of all metro stations are now open and normal metro services have resumed now, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) informed today.
The DMRC had closed the entry and exit gates at several metro stations, mainly in north and central Delhi, as the protesting farmers were observing three-hour "chakka jam" (road block) across the country.
The entry and exit gates of Mandi House, ITO, Delhi Gate, Vishwavidyalaya, Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Janpath, Central Secretariat, Khan Market and Nehru Place were closed as a precautionary measure due to the protests against the new agriculture laws.
Extra security has been deployed and barricades have been strengthened, which may potentially lead to traffic congestion on many key Delhi roads. Extensive measures have been undertaken at the Ghazipur border point with even water cannon vehicles deployed.
The Red Fort area, the biggest point of disturbance on Republic Day, has received particular focus today.
However, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of the farmer unions protesting the three farm laws, said on Friday the protesters will not block roads in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the ''chakka jam'', even as it asserted that peasants in other parts of the country will block national and state highways for three hours, but in a peaceful way.
Forces have also been deployed at important junctions across the national capital including Red Fort and ITO which witnessed violence on January 26 during the tractor parade by the protesting farmers in which over 500 police personnel were injured and a protester died.
Police are also using drone cameras to keep a tight vigil at protest sites.
Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.