More than 5,000 passengers were unable to board their trains after traffic restrictions in central Delhi disrupted access to New Delhi Railway Station on Thursday. The disruption occurred as Opposition MPs and Congress workers gathered at Rajghat for a protest, with road blockades around Rajghat and Connaught Place affecting movement towards the railway station.

Among those affected were 56 students from IIT Jodhpur who were scheduled to board the Dibrugarh Rajdhani at 4 pm. The students could not reach New Delhi Railway Station in time because of the restrictions. Indian Railways officials said the wider disruption resulted in more than 5,000 passengers missing their respective trains.

The restrictions were imposed around Rajghat as the Opposition protest got underway following a luncheon meeting hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at a restaurant in Connaught Place. Movement towards New Delhi Railway Station was affected by the restrictions, leaving passengers and other commuters facing difficulties in reaching the area. Traffic authorities advised motorists to use alternative routes and follow diversions marked by personnel.

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Several roads in central Delhi were affected by the restrictions. Movement towards NS Marg and the Red Fort was restricted from Chatta Rail, while vehicles at the NS Marg–Subhash T-Point were prevented from proceeding towards Delhi Gate. Traffic movement from Shanti Van Chowk towards the Ring Road and Rajghat was also restricted. Buses, including Delhi Transport Corporation services, and heavy goods vehicles were affected by the restrictions, which were scheduled to remain in place until 10 pm on Thursday.

The restrictions coincided with the INDIA bloc’s protest at Rajghat against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the demonstration after the luncheon meeting. Samajwadi Party MP Rajiv Rai said the MPs had gone to Rajghat for a peaceful sit-in as part of the ongoing Opposition protest.

Commuters were urged to keep intersections clear, cooperate with traffic authorities and allow emergency vehicles to pass during the restrictions. The disruption highlighted the impact of the protest-related road controls on railway passengers, with thousands unable to reach New Delhi Railway Station before their scheduled departures. Authorities advised travellers and motorists to follow diversions while the restrictions remained in force.

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