The Central Public Works Department, under the Ministry of Urban Development, builds and maintains public buildings.
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 last 162 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 the Director General (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 has PAN India presence and has ability to undertake construction of complex projects even in difficult terrain and maintenance in post construction stage.
It is the prime engineering department of Government of union of India and its specifications and manuals are followed by local public works departments and engineering wing of other departments.
CPWD consists of three wings in execution field: (i) B&R (Buildings and Roads) (ii) E&M (Electrical and Mechanical) (iii) Horticulture.
CPWD had been involved in construction of stadiums and other infrastructure requirements for Asian Games 1982 and Commonwealth Games 2010.
