New Delhi: As India prepares to celebrate its 77th Republic Day, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced special operating hours on January 26 to help commuters reach Kartavya Path and other celebration venues smoothly.
According to a press release issued by DMRC on Friday, all metro lines will begin services at 3 AM on Monday. Trains will operate at an interval of 15 minutes between 3 AM and 6 AM, after which the regular metro timetable will resume for the rest of the day.
The early start is aimed at easing travel for citizens, officials, security personnel and invitees attending the Republic Day parade. Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys in advance to avoid congestion during the morning hours.
DMRC also confirmed that parking facilities at all metro stations will remain operational throughout the day, allowing commuters to park their vehicles and continue their journey by metro without inconvenience.
The Republic Day ceremony will begin at 9:30 AM with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying a wreath at the National War Memorial, followed by the parade at Kartavya Path starting at 10:30 AM.
This year’s Republic Day celebrations are being held under the central theme ‘150 Years of Vande Mataram’, commemorating the legacy of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s iconic national song. The theme has been woven into multiple elements of the parade, including visual displays along the route showcasing paintings illustrating the verses of Vande Mataram.
A total of 30 tableaux will roll down Kartavya Path, highlighting the sub-themes ‘Swatantrata ka Mantra – Vande Mataram’ and ‘Samriddhi ka Mantra – Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The creative presentation features music direction by MM Keeravani, lyrics by Subhash Sehgal, narration by Anupam Kher and choreography by Santosh Nair, under the overall supervision of Dr Sandhya Purecha. Pan-India band performances by the Tri-Services and Central Armed Police Forces are also part of the celebrations, with special emphasis on Chattopadhyay’s ancestral home in West Bengal.
