National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) carried out mock drills at Rajiv Chowk, Chawri Bazar, Rithala and Shastri Park stations in Delhi to assess the performance and preparedness of the agencies deployed in the metro stations.

According to N C Vij, Vice-Chairman, NDMA, these mock drills were carried out to review the efficacy of various agencies like Metro, the district administration, the police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in such scenarios.

CISF, a central paramilitary unit, was entrusted the responsibility in 2007 to guard Delhi's metro which is being used by over 600,000 commuters on a daily basis, after it was declared a terror target. Rajiv Chowk station located in a posh commercial district of Connaught Place, is a frequently visited area where four CISF personnel carried out the mock drill consisting not just opened fire but even tossed grenades at the platform. As part of the exercise, lights were partially switched of on the platform keeping some areas in complete darkness.

At Rithala Metro station, blasts were triggered in the parking area by using crackers and smoke candles. In Shastri Park Metro station, a call was made to blow up the train depot. The mock drill was carried out to check coordination among the Metro and district administration. One of the deepest underground metro stations is Chawri Bazar a chemical attack was performed with poisonous gases. It was to check the efficiency of escorting passengers out of the building.

The purpose behind this exercise was to inform people about the emergency procedures and to assess how personnel of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and CISF responded. It was also noticed how efficiently police cordoned off the area, according to Vij.