The much awaited extension of Churchgate-Virar trains on the Western Railways (WR) up to Dahanu in Thane district is like to take place by March 31 this year, chairman of the railway board, Vinay Mittal, said on Saturday.

The decision is significant since it would open the area between Virar and Dahanu for the development of extended suburbs.

The extension of Virar– Dahanu suburban services was a part of the 2012-13-railway budget. Although the infrastructure is already in place, the service has not been started because the WR did not have enough rakes. However, it is in the process of getting new trains.

The WR was supposed to procure 10 new rakes, of which three have arrived and one has been inducted in services. ‘There will be seven rakes (trains) available soon,” said a WR official. The extension of services till Dahanu will provide direct connectivity for areas beyond Virar such as Vaitarna, Saphala, Palghar, Umroli, Boisar, Vangaon and Dahanu.