PMC to Host Country's First Full-Distance Hill Marathon on Kharghar Hill
The Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to host the country's first full-distance hill marathon on Kharghar Hill on Sunday, August 23. The upcoming 42-kilometre event has already drawn an enthusiastic response from runners across India, with approximately 6,000 participants registering so far and the civic body projecting the total count to reach 10,000.
The race course combines urban and natural stretches, comprising 31 kilometres along the roads of Kharghar and 11 kilometres across challenging hill terrain. Organisers have introduced five separate race categories to accommodate different fitness levels, including 42 km, 21 km, 10 km, 5 km, and 3 km. Civic officials noted that all 6,000 current registrations were logged in the past 15 days alone, driven by nationwide interest in the hill-running format.
The marathon's scheduling follows earlier administrative hurdles. CIDCO, which serves as the planning authority for the Kharghar area, had initially refused permission to hold the race on the hill, citing safety risks for participants. However, after persistent efforts by elected representatives, CIDCO subsequently granted the necessary clearance.
Among the prominent athletes registered for the competition is Gurinderveer Singh, recognized by the civic body as one of India's fastest sprinters after clocking 10.9 seconds in a 100-metre event in May 2026.
Given that the marathon is being hosted on the hill for the first time, the civic body is placing special emphasis on runner safety along the elevated terrain, with officials stating that preparations are being carried out on a war footing.
“PMC has organised a marathon for the first time in a scenic natural setting during the monsoon. Several participants from across the country are keen to take part. We expect around 10,000 runners to participate,” said Mayor Nitin Patil.
The event preparations are being guided by PMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dr Vaibhav Vidhate. Corporator Paresh Thakur is the chief promoter of the marathon, while Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Chitale is monitoring the administrative and logistical arrangements.
