Most affected telephone lines are in the Vasai Taluka and are covered under the Maharashtra Telecom Circle (Kalyan).

``We cannot access any telephone line either to and from Mumbai since August 15, when the direct dialling system was introduced,'' said Mohan Satpute, a resident of Agashi village.

Satpute added that when the new direct dialling code no 912 was dialled, the caller got only an engage tone. ``Calls made to Mumbai get through only on a few telephones, but that too, after around two to three hours of constant dialling,'' he said.

Even dialling the old STD code no 02523 is no longer effective as the service was discontinued from August 15. ``In fact, we get to hear a taped message instructing us to dial the direct dialling code,'' he added.

Officials of the Maharashtra Telecom Circle said that they were aware of the problem and steps were being taken to rectify the technical snag. ``However, it is only the lines between Mumbai and these places that are affected. Services to and from other places are normal,'' he said.

MTNL officials in Mumbai, however, denied that the problem was due to the implementation of the direct dialling system. ``Agashi and Jui Chandra villages which are facing this problem are not even covered under the MTNL, Mumbai,'' said chief public relations officer, Anil S Lele.