Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan has taken up the cause of railway commuters, seeking direct local train services from Dombivli and Nilje to Mumbai. The demand, reported on October 9, aims to improve daily connectivity for thousands of commuters in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Chavan has raised the issue with railway authorities, arguing that residents of the fast-growing suburbs face long, crowded journeys to the city.

Dombivli and Nilje sit on Central Railway’s busy main line, where peak-hour trains run packed. Direct services would cut the need for changes at Thane or Kalyan and shorten travel time. Commuter groups have long asked for more trains and better frequency on this corridor. Railway officials have not yet announced a decision.

The proposal comes as Mumbai’s suburban network, which carries lakhs of passengers daily, continues to add services. Any new direct trains would need timetable slots on the congested main line. For now, commuters wait to see if the demand moves from proposal to schedule.