Title - Churchgate-Dahanu local all set to roll from Tuesday

After much delay the Churchgate-Dahanu local will finally run and the occasion is the completion of 160 years of Indian Railways on Tuesday.With the Indian Railways completing 160 years on April 16, the city’s railways have also organised a host of events and exhibitions.“As the first train ran on April 16, we will run our Churchgate-Dahanu train on April 16. It will be the 160 year gift of Indian Railways to Mumbaikars,” Sharat Chandrayan, chief spokesperson of Western Railway told dna.The Western Railway has also lined up several interactive programmes, events and exhibitions throughout the week starting on Monday where people can participate.“This time, there will be public participation and it will be a grand show,” Chandrayan added. The Central Railway is, however, still in planning mode. “We are still undertaking meetings and a final programme line-up is yet to be done,” AK Singh, spokesperson of the Central Railway said.  The Dahanu train is a welcome gesture for Mumbaikars.“I was one of the first person who had been pushing for it and the railways had promised me so in the early 90s. I am very happy that it is finally happening,” he said.The Mumbai suburban section of the WR was extended from Virar to Dahanu Road in the year 1998 by then railway minister Ram Naik, but has been served only by short distance diesel-run shuttle trains.

Although WR’s local services map always showed the suburban route extending right up to Dahanu Road, it is only on paper.

Suburban trains on the WR ply on the 60km distance between Churchgate and Virar which had led to massive urbanisation and formation of small townships along the border of the city in Virar and Vasai.

The 60-km stretch between Virar and Dahanu has seven stations, including Vaitarna, Saphale, Kelve Road, Palghar, Umroli, Boisar and Vangaon. There are a large number of passengers that travel from Mumbai to Virar and Dahanu for work every day.