New Delhi | Entry and exit gates at 57 Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk and Kashmere Gate, will remain closed from 9 pm on Friday till further notice due to security reasons ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced the closure on Friday and said restrictions will continue on October 10, with the interchange facility remaining available at all affected stations except for the New Delhi metro station.

Other prominent stations where entry and exit gates will remain closed include Janpath, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, ITO, Delhi Gate, Khan Market, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Hauz Khas and INA.

Additionally, Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Millia Islamia, Okhla Vihar, Kalindi Kunj, Lajpat Nagar, Ashram, Sarai Kale Khan-Nizamuddin, Welcome, Shahdara, Rithala, Rohini, Azadpur, Jangpura and Shivaji Stadium are also among the list of stations that will see their gates shuttered.

The closure follows a request by Delhi Police to the DMRC in view of the proposed protests at Jantar Mantar and other locations in New Delhi district on October 10, citing the likelihood of "unruly movement" towards sensitive locations.

In its letter dated October 8, Delhi Police had also said the frequency of metro trains passing through the identified stations may be reduced on Saturday, depending on the situation.