Delhi Metro Issues Republic Day 2026 Travel Advisory: Timings, Gate Closures And Free Rides Explained

New Delhi

oi-Ashish Rana

With
Delhi
under
heightened
security
ahead
of
the
Republic
Day
2026
celebrations,
the
Delhi
Metro
is
set
to
play
a
crucial
role
in
ensuring
smooth
and
safe
movement
across
the
city.

The
Delhi
Metro
Rail
Corporation
(DMRC)
has
released
a
detailed
travel
advisory
for
January
26,
urging
passengers
to
plan
their
journeys
carefully
in
view
of
early
morning
services,
station
gate
closures
and
additional
security
checks.

The
advisory
is
aimed
at
commuters
travelling
for
the
Republic
Day
parade
as
well
as
regular
passengers,
with
special
arrangements
made
to
reduce
inconvenience
and
manage
large
crowds
heading
towards
Kartavya
Path.

Metro
services
to
start
at
3
AM
with
limited
frequency

The
DMRC
has
announced
that
train
services
on
all
Metro
lines
will
begin
much
earlier
than
usual
on
Monday,
January
26.
Services
will
commence
at
3:00
am,
with
trains
running
at
15-minute
intervals
until
6:00
am.

Passengers
have
been
advised
to
make
use
of
these
early
services
to
avoid
last-minute
delays,
especially
those
heading
towards
the
parade
venue.
The
early
start
is
intended
to
help
people
reach
Kartavya
Path
comfortably
and
on
time.

Entry
and
exit
gates
of
six
stations
to
remain
closed

As
part
of
the
Republic
Day
security
arrangements,
the
DMRC
has
confirmed
that
entry
and
exit
gates
at
six
Metro
stations
will
remain
closed
from
3:00
am
until
the
conclusion
of
the
programme.

The
affected
stations
and
gates
are:

• Central
  Secretariat:
  Gate
  number
  3
  and
  4
• Udyog
  Bhawan:
  Gate
  number
  1
• Lal
  Quila:
  Gate
  number
  3
  and
  4
• Jama
  Masjid:
  Gate
  number
  3
  and
  4
• Delhi
  Gate:
  Gate
  number
  1,
  4
  and
  5
• ITO:
  Gate
  number
  3,
  4
  and
  6

According
to
the
DMRC,
“Due
to
security
arrangements
on
the
occasion
of
Republic
Day
celebrations,
entry
and
exit
at
selected
metro
station
gates
will
remain
temporarily
closed
on
26th
January
2026,
from
3:00
AM
till
the
conclusion
of
the
programme.”

Parking
facilities
to
remain
open
across
the
Metro
network

Despite
the
restrictions
at
select
stations,
the
DMRC
has
clarified
that
parking
facilities
at
Metro
stations
will
remain
fully
operational
on
Republic
Day.

“The
parking
facilities
at
metro
stations
across
the
network
will
remain
fully
operational
on
Republic
Day,
providing
additional
convenience
for
those
attending
the
celebrations,” the
DMRC
said
in
a
statement.

This
move
is
expected
to
benefit
commuters
who
plan
to
drive
to
nearby
stations
and
continue
their
journey
by
Metro.

Free
Metro
travel
for
invited
spectators
and
safety
advisory

To
facilitate
the
movement
of
spectators,
free
Metro
tickets
are
being
provided
along
with
invitation
cards.
These
tickets
will
be
valid
for
both
onward
and
return
journeys.
Only
passengers
carrying
a
valid
invitation
or
ticket
along
with
a
government-issued
photo
ID
will
be
allowed
to
use
this
facility.

Passengers
using
free
Metro
tickets
will
be
able
to
deboard
at
Udyog
Bhawan
or
Central
Secretariat
Metro
stations
and
proceed
to
their
designated
seating
areas.

In
addition,
the
DMRC
has
urged
commuters
to
allow
extra
time
for
travel
due
to
enhanced
security
checks
at
all
stations.
Passengers
have
been
advised
to
cooperate
with
security
personnel,
remain
patient
while
standing
in
queues,
and
maintain
discipline
during
peak
hours.

The
Metro
authority
has
also
issued
a
general
safety
advisory,
asking
passengers
to
mind
the
gap
between
the
platform
and
train
doors,
remain
vigilant
while
travelling
with
children
and
infants,
and
take
care
of
valuables
and
loose
clothing
such
as
sarees,
dupattas,
dhotis
and
bags
while
boarding
or
alighting.