Delhi Lok Sabha Elections: From bus, metro, traffic advisory to liquor stores; know what's open, what's closed today

Delhi is gearing up for the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for Saturday, May 25. Congress has allied with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as part of the INDIA bloc, aiming to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The national capital will vote in a single phase for all seven constituencies, marking the penultimate phase of the elections.

Authorities in the national capital have imposed several restrictions on the polling day, including a 48-hour ban on liquor sales. 

Also read: Lok Sabha Election 2024: Complete list of 58 seats voting in Phase 6 on May 25

Lok Sabha Election in Delhi

Here is what is open and what is closed on the polling day:

Liquor shops

The excise department has notified that all liquor storesand licensed premises in Delhi and adjoining areas, including Faridabad and Gurgaon, will remain closed on May 25. This directive is in accordance with orders issued by the Election Commission of India.

The closure will remain effective until 6:00 p.m. on May 25. The orders have been in effect since May 23, 6:00 p.m. Moreover, liquor sales are prohibited in the national capital on June 4, the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 result day.

Also read: Lok Sabha Elections: ‘CCTVs, drones, 31,000 policemen,’ Security beefed up in Delhi for phase 6 voting.

Delhi schools

It should be noted that schools in the capital city have been shut down due to the heatwave. Consequently, the Delhi government directed all private schools to start summer vacations immediately.

Banks

Additionally, banks will be closed on May 25, the fourth Saturday of the month. In the fifth phase, the Reserve Bank of India declared a bank holiday in certain cities.

Also read: Sonia Gandhi's message to Delhi voters: 'Every vote of yours will create employment, empower women.'

What's open?

Delhi Metro

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced that metro train services on all lines will commence at 4 am on May 25, the voting day in the national capital. 

A post on the official handle of DMRC on X states, “On the day of the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi on 25th May, Delhi Metro train services on all lines will start at 4 a.m. so that the staff deployed for election duty can avail the facility. The trains will run with a frequency of 30 minutes on all the lines until 6 a.m."

It adds, “The trains will run with a frequency of 30 minutes on all the Lines till 06:00 AM. After 6:00 AM, normal Metro trains services will run throughout the day (SIC).”

Bus service

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will operate additional bus services across 35 routes starting at 4 am on May 25 to facilitate movement to and from polling stations in Delhi. Similarly, the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd (DIMTS) will provide services on 46 routes.

Traffic advisory

Delhi Traffic Police has not issued any traffic advisory yet for the polling day, but the advisory issued for May 24, stated, “In view of Lok Sabha Elections-2024, traffic restrictions will be effective on 24.05.2024. Kindly follow the advisory.”

Traffic restrictions are in place today from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, including restrictions near ITI Nand Nagri Delhi. For more details, refer to the official traffic advisory.