Central Public Works Department (CPWD) organized its 170th annual day on July 12 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Central Public Works Department (CPWD)

• Central Public Works Department, an attached office in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is a principal engineering organisation and technical advisor to the government of India.

• CPWD functions as the centralised agency responsible for all public service operations and development work in India.

• CPWD is a central agency working for the central government, while PWD operates in various states, working for distinct state governments.

• CPWD is a total service provider, capable of giving single window service for all facets of built environment with complete accountability and responsibility.

• CPWD renders most comprehensive services in the field of planning, designing and construction from concept to completion for all building & infrastructure projects with total quality assurance including post construction maintenance management.

• CPWD came into existence in July 1854 when Lord Dalhousie established a central agency for execution of public works and set up Ajmer Provincial Division. 

• Through the professional expertise in disciplines including architecture, engineering, project management coupled with comprehensive experience in building construction and maintenance CPWD has been serving the nation for the last 170 years and has executed priority of works in difficult and demanding geographical and climatic conditions. 

• It has now grown into a comprehensive construction management department, which provides services from project concept to completion, consultancy and maintenance management.

• It is headed by DG who is also the Principal Technical Advisor to the government of India. The regions and sub-regions are headed by special DGs and additional DGs respectively, while the zones in all state capitals (except a few) are headed by chief engineers.

CPWD is tasked with creating and maintaining public services such as:

• Bridges

• Public government construction

• Public transportation

• Highways

• Drinking water sources

• Other national-level infrastructure.

CPWD manages the work and projects of the government, including:

• Road and highway safety and facilities

• Maintenance and restructuring of government buildings.

CPWD typically has the following obligations in India:

• Designing and building all government public projects.

• Ensuring the security of roads and highways.

• Building and developing highways.

• Maintaining and upgrading government structures.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)