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. Location 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. New Panvel Most of the recent developments of Panvel are in New Panvel, as it's more of a planned city compared to Panvel city New Panvel is developed, administered, and maintained by CIDCO. Unlike Panvel city, New Panvel is strictly 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 just west of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. It is well connected to rest of India by roadways 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 under construction Di.Ba Patil 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