New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and its chairperson filed separate affidavits in the Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 14) stating that its metro network remained “fully functional” on October 10, the first day of the protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, when the corporation had announced closure of 57 metro stations, citing “security reasons”.“There was zero reduction in the total volume of metro operation or the number of train trips,” the DMRC said, noting that it recorded 32 lakh passengers, The Hindu reported.The affidavit, filed by DMRC chairperson D. Thara, sought discharge from contempt proceedings initiated by the Supreme Court in an order passed at the end of a special Sunday hearing on October 11. At the outset of the affidavit, the DMRC chairperson also tendered “unconditional apology” to the Court, LiveLaw reported.On October 9 and 11, the Supreme Court had indeed directed that metro services run normally.The corporation admitted that commuter traffic was “slightly lower” than the typical 58 lakh passengers on a “normal” second Saturday, but denied responsibility instead attributing it to public caution amid protests rather than the administrative paralysis.“This reduction may be attributed to the protest, which appears to have prompted a large number of commuters to refrain from travelling, and consequently, from undertaking their usual daily activities or attending to their business or private employment,” it read.Also read: Delhi’s Total Crackdown Lays Bare a Government Unable to Handle Any CrisisOrdinary citizens were “compelled to forgo their usual day-to-day activities” on October 10, it said.The DMRC’s advisory on October 9, on the eve of the protests, had announced the closure of entry and exit at 57 metro stations from 9 PM, “continuing on 10th October”, and “till further notice”.Service UpdateDue to security reasons, the entry and exit at the following metro stations will remain closed from 09:00 PM on 9th October, 2026 and continuing on 10th October, 2026 till further notice. However, interchange facility will remain available at all the concerned metro stations except New Delhi metro station.— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) October 9, 2026In a subsequent advisory, the restrictions were reduced to 45 stations. The DMRC reiterated this at 6 PM on October 10: “The 45 Metro stations, closed since 09:00 PM on Friday due to security reasons will continue to remain closed till 10:00 PM tonight (10th October). Further the situation will be reviewed by the security agencies and necessary updates shall be shared accordingly.”The day had seen rampant police crackdown, with deployment of nearly 27,000 paramilitary personnel, heavy barricading, train cancellations, and metro restrictions. Petitioners including CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby and advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi had argued that widespread movement restrictions violated an October 9 Supreme Court order.In another affidavit filed by DMRC general legal manager, defending its actions, said entry and exit regulations were limited to 45 against the network’s full capacity of 303 stations, accounting for about 15% of the network.“Over 85% of the network (258 stations) remained fully operational, accessible, and functional for commuters,” it said.It also noted that of the 45 stations, 14 key interchange stations – which included major transit hubs like Rajiv Chowk, Kashmere Gate, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, Hauz Khas, Dilli Haat-INA, and Netaji Subhash Place – continued to provide “full and uninterrupted” line-interchange facilities for commuters. Commuters entering the city as well as inside the city were able to change transit corridors seamlessly without disruption, the affidavit said.“For the limited stations where passenger gates were regulated, other Metro stations had remained open to minimise inconvenience to the travelling public,” the affidavit stated.The corporation asserted that the full service schedule was maintained, with 271 trains making 4,157 trips, and that restrictions on the 45 stations were lifted entirely by 10 PM on October 10.Regarding additional closures on October 12, the affidavit noted that metro services were closed at six stations were closed from 6 AM to 4 PM and later extended by an hour, until 5 PM in view of the opposition’s “March for Democracy” to the Supreme Court.