The daily commuters and office-goers remained a hassled lot on the second consecutive day as authorities closed four Metro stations around the Central Secretariat and diverted the buses on other routes. The sufferers blamed it on the insensitive attitude of the Delhi Chief Minister and his supporters who were staging a dharna in front of Rail Bhavan. Meanwhile, the police had placed barricades on all roads leading to the protest venue that added to their woes.
Four Metro stations — Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhavan and Race Course — remained closed from 6 am after a late night directive from Delhi Police to the DMRC. Even the interchange facility at Central Secretariat was closed. Trains on line 6 from Badarpur to Central Secretariat terminated at Khan Market Metro station. The Metro stations were reopened around 8 pm on Tuesday evening. The commuters, who work in the Central Secretariat area — Shastri Bhavan, Rail Bhavan, Parliament, North and South Block — were worst-hit because of the ongoing protest. To add to their woes, DTC buses were diverted forcing office-goers to walk long distances.
“We alighted at the Khan Market Station and walked for about four kilometre. There were many who found it difficult to make it to office. The authorities appear to be least concerned about the common man,” said Rakesh Tyagi, a Government employee. Meanwhile, the protest witnessed lukewarm response on Tuesday as the people distanced themselves from the agitation on the second day. Only those, who are party members, reached the protest venue wearing the Aam Aadmi Party topi.