October 11, 2026 — Delhi’s metro, trains and mobile internet were back to normal on Sunday after Saturday’s lockdown, and India’s Supreme Court, in a rare Sunday sitting, told authorities to keep them running. Protests are not over: police detained more people near Connaught Place on Sunday, and opposition leaders have called a march to the Supreme Court for Monday, October 12.
This updates our October 10 story, when metro stations were shut and reopening was unconfirmed.
What is new since Saturday
- Metro reopened. Delhi Metro said all station gates reopened on Saturday night. Gates at 45 stations had been closed for about 25 hours, until 10 pm Saturday.
- Trains. Northern Railway said on Saturday evening that services were returning to normal and no further cancellations were planned.
- Sunday services. Trains, metro and buses ran as usual on Sunday with no internet curbs reported, according to ETV Bharat. The government told the Supreme Court that metro, rail and internet services were back to normal. The exact time mobile data was restored was not published.
- Supreme Court order. A special bench issued interim directions on Sunday: metro and rail should run normally unless regulation is needed for public order, internet should stay undisturbed, and authorities should review the barricades across Delhi immediately. The court said this does not remove the authorities’ legal powers. Next hearing: Tuesday, October 13.
- Roads on Sunday. Delhi Traffic Police applied diversions from 6 am at about 30 points in New Delhi and Central Delhi, including Dhaula Kuan Flyover, Mandi House, Minto Road and Patel Chowk. Police advised people heading to the airport, rail stations or bus terminals to leave with time in hand.
- More detentions. Protesters tried again on Sunday to reach Jantar Mantar. The Press Trust of India reported more than 100 detained; other reports say hundreds. Counts for Saturday still range from about 2,000 to about 7,000 depending on the outlet.
- Releases. Police began releasing Saturday’s detainees that evening. The protest’s organizers were released on Sunday morning.
What comes next
| Date | What | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 12 | Opposition (INDIA bloc) march to the Supreme Court in central Delhi | Announced Sunday by Rahul Gandhi. Leaders have asked to meet the Chief Justice between 4 and 5 pm. Start time and route: TBA. |
| Mon Oct 12 | Police restrictions, metro closures, traffic and airport advisories | None published when we checked: TBA. |
| Tue Oct 13 | Supreme Court hearing on the transport and internet restrictions | Scheduled |
| General strike (bandh) | None called | No date found |
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has stayed open throughout. We found no new airport advisory for Sunday or Monday.
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What it means for airline travelers
- Monday afternoon is the pinch point. The march heads for the Supreme Court in central Delhi, and leaders want to be there between 4 and 5 pm. Expect diversions around it, and check Delhi Traffic Police and Delhi Metro updates before you set out.
- Getting to the airport: the metro is running again and is the most predictable option. By road, allow at least an extra hour from central Delhi.
- Staying overnight: Aerocity or Gurugram keeps you clear of the protest zone. If you stay near Connaught Place, confirm the hotel is taking guests.
- Keep offline copies of boarding passes and bookings in case mobile data is cut again, and carry some cash.
- Stay away from the march and from Jantar Mantar. Police have detained large numbers of people in the area, and being caught up in that could cost you your flight.
- Enroll in STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad.
Sources
- ThePrint, “SC orders restoration of metro, train, internet and movement rights in Sunday special bench hearing”
- The Week, “CJP protests: SC directs review of Delhi barricades, seeks normal metro and rail services”
- Republic World, “Delhi Traffic Alert Today: 30 Routes Affected Amid CJP Protest, Metro Gates Reopen”
- Business Standard, “Rahul Gandhi announces march to SC on Monday, seeks CEC’s resignation”
- ETV Bharat, Delhi protest live blog, October 11
- Zee News, “Delhi CJP protest: 4,000 detained as capital faces restrictions, INDIA bloc plans Monday march”
- The Week, “‘Not backing down’: CJP vows Jantar Mantar march on Sunday as 7,000 detained”
- Press Trust of India via Vartha Bharati, “INDIA bloc to hold protest march in Delhi on Monday, submit memorandum to CJI: Venugopal”
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