Panvel

Panvel is one of the cities in the district Raigad. It is also called the gate of Raigad because Panvel is the first city when entering in Raigad from east. It is also one of the most populous and developed cities in the district. Panvel is situated on the banks of the Gadhi river which flows and connects all the way to the Arabian sea. It is also surrounded by hills on two sides.

Panvel has a mix population consisting Agri samaaj, Muslims and Koli community. Panvel is a medium-sized city but densely populated as it strategically lays between Mumbai and Pune. The city is the headquarters of the Panvel sub-division of Raigad district, which is the largest in the district as per number of villages (564).

Hinduism is majority religion in Panvel city with 78.67% followers. Islam is second most popular religion in city of Panvel with approximately 10.85% following it. In Panvel city, Christianity is followed by 2.13%, Jainism by 1.29%, Sikhism by 0.47% and Buddhism by 0.47%. Around 0.13% stated 'Other Religion', approximately 0.54% stated 'No Particular Religion'.[3]

Weather is Sunny across the year. There is heavy rain during monsoon. May is the warmest month of the year. The temperature in May averages 34.3 °C. The lowest average temperatures in the year occur in January, when it is around 23.4 °C. Temperatures hover around 40 °C during most days of summer during mid-March till May. Highest temperature recorded around 44-45 °C. Average annual temperature of Panvel is 27.0 °C.[4]

Panvel (also known as Panwell by the British) is about 300 years old, developed around trade routes (both land and sea), during the Mughal rule and hence after by the Marathas, British and the Portuguese. Once upon a time Panvel was famous for its rice market. Panvel Municipal Council (PMC) was established in the year 1852, and was the oldest municipal council of Maharashtra, before the formation of Panvel Municipal Corporation. Panvel Municipal Council's elections started in the year 1910. The first mayor of the PMC was Mr. Yusuf Noor Mohammed Master Kachchi for the years 1910–1916. The sesquicentennial anniversary (150th anniversary) of the PMC was celebrated in the year 2002. The city prospered and grew due to the influence of large scale trade by land and sea. This was characterised by the large palace-like homes that came up during the Peshwa period. It is also said that old name of this city was Paneli (Panelim in Konkani). There were historic cannons (during the time of Shivaji) situated on Panvel fort. On 1 October 2016, Panvel Municipal Corporation came into existence.

Panvel lies approximately 40 kilometers east of Greater Mumbai, in Navi Mumbai, inside the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It is surrounded by the mountains of Matheran to the east and south east and outer regions of Panvel i.e. villages of Dundhare, Maldunge are separated from the suburbs of Badlapur and Ambernath by hilly ranges of the Western Ghats. It lies adjacent to the Navi Mumbai International Airport forming its eastern boundary.

The recent developments of Panvel are in New Panvel. New Panvel is developed, administered, and maintained by CIDCO. Just like Old Panvel, New Panvel is a node of Navi Mumbai. Though residents of New Panvel used to elect a representative in the Panvel Municipal Council, the Municipal Council does not control or manage any administrative or development activity in New Panvel.

Since October 2016, New Panvel was brought under administration of Panvel Municipal Corporation.

The development of New Panvel was initiated in 1970 to meet the housing requirements of employees working in the nearby industrial MIDC areas such as Taloja, Rasayani, Patalganga & Pen.

New Panvel is strategically located on the eastern side of the Mumbai-Bangalore National Highway (NH-4) and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. It is well connected to rest of India by road and railway.

New Panvel is divided in two parts – New Panvel East and New Panvel West (commonly known as Khanda Colony). They have 19 and 23 sectors respectively. It has separate railway station for Panvel and Khandeshwar.

New Panvel is just adjacent to the proposed Navi Mumbai International airport which is located in Ulwe, a node in Navi Mumbai. It has a number of schools, colleges and hospitals, general stores and businesses. New Panvel is also a popular destination for the popular meal called Vada Pav. It also has India's one of the few virtual digital marketing agencies like DigiBeedoo Media.

There are a large number of educational institutions in Panvel such as:

• St Xavier's English School
• Industrial Training Institute Panvel
• Shantiniketan Public School

New Panvel

• Government College of Education
• Dr. Pillai's International School (IGCSE and IB Board)
• Anjuman-I-Islam's Abdul Razzak Kalsekar Polytechnic, Panvel
• Anjuman-I-Islam's Kalsekar Technical Campus AIKTC, New Panvel
• Prudence International School (IGCSE and IB Board)
• Pillais Institute of Information Technology, Engineering, Media Studies & Research, New Panvel
• DD Vispute College
• D.A.V. Public School, New Panvel[5]
• Changu Kana Thakur School
• Changu Kana Thakur Arts, Commerce and Science College, New Panvel
• St. Josephs High School (SSC Board), Sector-7, Plot No-9 New Panvel (EAST)
• St. Joseph's Senior Secondary School (CBSE Board), Sector-11, New Panvel (WEST)
• Kendriya Vidyalaya ONGC Phase 1, Panvel (CBSE Board)
• Konkan Education society's V. K. High School (Vithoba Khandappa), Panvel[6]
• Konkan Education society's K. V. Kanya High School (Kesahvaji Viraji), Panvel
• Konkan Education Society I.A.W English medium school (Indubai atmaram wajekar), Panvel
• New Horizon Public School, Khanda Colony
• Mahatma Education Society's Mahatma School of Academics & Sports and Mahatma International School, Khanda Colony
• Barns High School & College of Arts, Science & Commerce
• MPASC (Mahatma Phule Arts, Science & Commerce) College, Panvel
• Takale's Vidnyan Gurukul, Shirdhon, Panvel
• St Marys School- Sukhapur New Panvel
• St George School - Adhia Village
• Minority English School
• Huda School - Panvel
• Yakub Baig High School - Panvel
• The Buddhist International School New Panvel
• K. A. Banthia High School and N.N.Paliwala Junior College, New Panvel
• Maharashtra Education Society's Phadke Vidyalaya, New Panvel.
• St. Johannes International School, Kolkhe, Panvel

Panvel is surrounded by some major Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) managed regions like Patalganga, Taloja, Nagothane, Roha, Khopoli, Bhiwandi. Some of the Indian industry majors like Larsen & Toubro Limited, Reliance, Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd.,ISRO's Propellant Complex., ONGC, IPCL are based around Panvel providing mass employment. The JNPT port is also located near Panvel. New SEZ declared by government are coming around Panvel.

Gadeshwar dam

Gadeshwar Reservoir

During the monsoon, the Gadeshwar dam overflows. The place can be reached by entering New Panvel and via the Sukhapur-Nere road. Panvel is also famous for watermelons, which can be found abundantly in and around the city and the old Mumbai–Pune highway.

Panvel is an important junction point as many major highways meet and pass through the city. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Sion-Panvel Expressway, NH 4B and NH 66 start from here while NH 4 passes through Panvel. Roads of New Panvel are maintained by CIDCO while those in Panvel by PMC. New Panvel, being developed by CIDCO, has well planned and wide lane major roads and even the arterial roads are of two lanes. Panvel has relatively less maintained roads which are congested due to lack of planning on part of the PMC.

• Sainagar

• The Gazetters Department: Panvel