PWD to get its own engineering cadre

The Public Works Department (PWD) is all set to establish its own engineering cadre — a move that will end decades of dependence on the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for technical manpower. For years, the PWD has had to rely on engineers, executive engineers, superintending engineers and junior engineers deputed from CPWD and other central agencies, often leading to project delays, conflicting loyalties and a lack of accountability. Now, with its own independent cadre, Delhi PWD will have a dedicated workforce trained, appointed and promoted entirely under its own rules and oversight, the government said.

PWD Minister Parvesh Verma called the move a turning point for the department and the city. “When engineers are accountable only to the people of Delhi, their performance and commitment automatically rise. We are building a stronger, cleaner and faster and we need our own team to do it,” Verma said.

The proposal for creating the cadre has been finalised and will be placed before the Delhi Cabinet in the coming days. Once approved, the PWD will begin recruiting new engineers and realigning its structure so that every position, from junior engineer to chief engineer, is staffed by officers under Delhi’s direct control. Current CPWD officers serving on deputation will be given the option to either return to their parent cadre or opt permanently into the new Delhi PWD service, subject to departmental rules.

Officials believe this long-pending reform will bring faster decision-making, greater accountability and stronger project continuity — something that has often suffered due to frequent transfers and divided responsibilities under the deputation system.

The PWD expects that a permanent cadre will ensure engineers stay with long-term projects from start to finish, receive targeted training suited to Delhi’s unique infrastructure needs and be more accountable for project outcomes. The department says the shift will remove bottlenecks, delays and cost overruns, making Delhi’s road networks, flyovers, drainage systems and public buildings safer and better managed.

Once the cadre system is in place, officials say Delhi PWD will be brought on par with other civic agencies like MCD, NDMC and DDA, which already have their own dedicated engineering services.

Delhi