Metro Timing 26th January: The country is set to celebrate its 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026. To mark the occasion, grand parades and ceremonies will be held in Delhi’s Kartavya Path and surrounding areas. The Delhi Police and the Central Government have made special arrangements for preparation and security, ensuring that citizens can celebrate this national festival in a safe and dignified environment.
Parade rehearsals are underway in the capital ahead of Republic Day, which could impact traffic. Therefore, the Delhi Traffic Police has issued new traffic advisories and guidelines for the general public. Let’s explore the special arrangements for traffic, metro, and parking during this year’s Republic Day, and what precautions citizens should take.
Traffic advisory and affected routes
Rehearsals for the Republic Day Parade began on January 17th. While no rehearsal was held on January 18th, parade rehearsals will be held on January 19th, 20th, and 21st from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. During this period, major roads along the route from Vijay Chowk to India Gate will be closed or restricted. The main affected roads and intersections will be Kartavya Path Rafi Marg, Kartavya Path Janpath, Kartavya Path Man Singh Road, and Kartavya Path C-Hexagon. Additionally, the entire stretch of Kartavya Path from Vijay Chowk to India Gate will be completely closed. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes if they are traveling for essential purposes.
Special instructions for metro travelers
On Republic Day, a huge crowd gathers to see the parade. Because of this, the Delhi Metro (DMRC) has set up special arrangements for its passengers. Announcements will be made at every metro station to guide passengers on the right stations and entry/exit paths. This year, the seating areas for the parade are named after Indian rivers. Passengers are encouraged to get off at the metro stations that match their designated enclosures. Special guests will enjoy free metro rides through digital passes. As for the metro timings on Republic Day, the DMRC typically releases a separate notice. In past years, metro services on all lines have started at 4 am, allowing passengers to reach the venue on time for the parade. However, this year, to better accommodate the crowds and enhance public convenience, metro services will kick off at 3 am. From 3 pm to 6 am, metro services will run every 15 minutes at all stations. After that, the metro will operate according to the regular schedule.
QR code parking system
This Republic Day, a QR code-based parking system is in place at 22 designated parking areas. This system can accommodate around 8,000 vehicles. Spectators can easily find the parking area closest to their enclosure by scanning the QR code on their parking pass.
Safety measures and instructions
This year, security has been significantly enhanced. A multi-layered cordon has been established by the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces along the Kartavya Path and nearby areas. The entire region will be under surveillance by CCTV cameras connected to facial recognition systems (FRS). Sniper teams and anti-drone units are stationed on tall buildings. Hotels, guest houses, tenants, and domestic staff have undergone thorough verification. Only mobile phones are allowed when entering the enclosure. Any bags, food items, power banks, water bottles, umbrellas, perfumes, sprays, lighters, matches, knives, blades, scissors, tools, alcohol, cigarettes, or explosives are strictly prohibited.