Delhi PWD to have its own engineering cadre proposal to be placed soon before cabinet

New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) In a major administrative reform, the Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi is set to have its own engineering cadre, which will end decades of dependence on borrowed officers from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), officials said.
     The proposal for cadre formation has been finalised and will be placed before the Delhi Cabinet in the coming days, they added.
     Once approved, the PWD will initiate the recruitment and structural realignment process, ensuring that each level, from junior engineer to chief engineer, is staffed by officers exclusively under Delhi PWD's control, said an official statement.
    This change will bring the Delhi PWD in line with other modern city infrastructure bodies such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council, and Delhi Development Authority, which already have dedicated engineering services.
    Till now, PWD has relied on engineers, executive engineers (EEs), superintending engineers (SEs), and junior engineers (JEs) deputed from CPWD or other central agencies. But with the creation of an independent PWD cadre, Delhi will finally have its own permanent, dedicated technical workforce — trained, appointed and promoted under its own rules and oversight, .
    "This is a turning point not just for Delhi PWD, but for the entire 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 Delhi — and we need our own team to do it," said Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Delhi’s PWD Minister.
    All existing CPWD-deputed officers currently serving in Delhi PWD will be given the option to either return to their parent cadre or permanently opt into the new Delhi PWD engineering cadre, subject to conditions set by the department and administrative rules.
    This reform is expected to increase departmental efficiency, strengthen accountability and ensure continuity in leadership and project delivery — something often disrupted by transfers and deputations from CPWD, the statement added.
    According to officials, this move will provide administrative independence and ensure that there are no delays or disruptions due to CPWD deputation issues.
    Engineers will stay with long-term projects from start to finish, and cadre engineers will receive targeted training suited to Delhi's needs, the statement said.
     It will ensure accountability and make decision-making faster and more localised.
     For decades, PWD projects in Delhi, ranging from roads and flyovers to hospitals and government buildings, have been implemented by engineers on deputation from CPWD. These officers often face conflicting loyalties, frequent transfers and limited accountability to the Delhi government, leading to project delays, cost overruns and mismanagement, the statement added.
    By building its own cadre, the PWD will finally overcome these bottlenecks, ensuring smoother, faster implementation of critical infrastructure works.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)