The Public Works Department (PWD) in India is responsible for construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure. Key points:
1. PWD was established in 1854 in Uttar Pradesh to oversee building, road, irrigation, railway and military works.
2. PWD's functions include construction, improvement and maintenance of roads, bridges and certain government buildings.
3. The organization is headed by a Chief Engineer who oversees projects from start to completion, with subordinate roles including Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and Junior Engineers.
4. PWD uses various methods for carrying out works, including rate list, contract, piece work and day work methods. Administrative approval and
2. PWD
• PWD HISTORY
• From the year 1773 to 1858 in the three
existing Presidencies in ‘British India' there
were separate Military Councils for the
construction of government works.
• For the first time on an experimental basis in
1849, a Public Works Department (PWD) away
from the idea of Military Council was set up in
newly created Punjab province.
3. • In 1850, a commission under the ‘Court of
Directors’ recommended that under 'local
government' the execution of civil and military
public affairs works should be executed under
'Local Government' within their boundaries.
• With the above recommendations, Bengal and
after wards Bombay and Madras Presidencies
starts using the above system
with appropriate improvements.
4. In Uttar Pradesh (then North West Province) Public
Works Department was established around 1854
the same time as in Punjab. At that time the
following tasks were performed under, Public
works department (PWD) of India:
• Building and Road works
• Irrigation works
• Railway works
• Military works
5. Function of PWD
• The Public Works Department execute the
construction, improvement, strengthening and
maintenance of roads and bridges.
• The responsibility of construction of certain
buildings of the state government and their
maintenance is also upon this department.
• The department undertakes the maintenance of
National Highways passing through Uttar Pradesh
which are not covered by the National Highways
Authority for which funds are provided by the
Government of India.
6. • The task of monitoring the works under different schemes
and ensuring high quality of work has been assigned to 18
zonal Chief Engineers.
• For the State's industrial, economic and social
development it is essential to connect each village and its
population with the main roads. Besides, the widening and
high-quality repair of important National Highways, state
roads and district roads is also important for transportation.
• The P.W.D. is executing the work of construction and
improvement of link roads in rural areas, widening and
improvement of other district roads, main district roads
and state roads, construction of bridges in rural areas and
repair of narrow and damaged bridges on main routes on a
priority basis.
7. • In addition, it is also doing the work of
construction of link roads in rural areas under
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and
strengthening of previously-built rural and
other roads.
8. • Public Works Department, aims at re-formation,
restoration, improvement and maintenance of
roads, bridges, railway upstream bridges/
downstream bridges/ bypass and ring road and
connecting villages to paved roads.
• It also aims to ensure the quality and timeliness
in construction works along with maintenance of
national highways passing through the state and
preventing encroachment on roads constructed
by the department.
10. Functions of PWD Pesonnel
Function of Chief Engineer
• Communicating the goals of the company to all engineers and
professionals in the team.
• Supervising every phase of the project from start to completion.
• Calculating costs, material, labor, and time required for each
project.
• Approving designs and budgets.
• Delegating tasks to engineering teams.
• Supervising staff training as well as equipment installation.
• Performing quality control checks on all systems and products.
• Quickly resolving disputes between staff.
• Acknowledging or rewarding good work.
• Analyzing data and drafting reports for review.
11. Function of Superintending Engineer
1. The Estimate submitted by the Executive
Engineer should be checked bythe
Superintending Engineer before forwarding it to
Chief Engineer.
2. The Superintending Engineer should give
technical sanction to estimate within his power.
3. The Superintending engineer should look after
the Administrative approval and Technical Control
of the circle.
12. 4. He should see weather execution of work is
carried according to the rules and regulations.
5. He should see whether the accounts related
to execution of work are maintained properly.
6. The Superintending Engineer should inspect
the divisional office at once in a year.
13. • Functions of Executive engineer (civil) –works
• Organize and supervise execution of works
economically with specified quality
• Prepare estimates of proposed works
• Invite tenders for sanctioned works
• Expenditure control of works executed
• Control on measurement, stores ,accounts
14. Functions of Junior engineer (civil)-work
• Take detailed measurements of works during progress, record in
MB and prepare bills thereof.
• Maintain accounts of materials, tools and plants, labour
• Take the all measurements in measurement book Exercise direct
control in respect of specifications and progress of works under his
charges.
• Prepare running bills and final bills for all works in his charge
• Carries field surveys of proposed projects and tracing of structures
on the ground
• Prepare estimates for all types of works in the section
• Carries out check of tools, plants and arrange collection of rents.
15. • Carries out half yearly checks of all stores in his
charge and submit the report to SOD.
• Carries yearly annual inspection of all the
structures in his charge and submit the report of
such inspection to the SOD.
• Issue departmental materials through stores and
recover the charges from R.A. bills for the same.
• Report supervisors about progress of work by
filling various prescribed forms and then
submitting to the higher officials.
16. • Supervise day to day progress of work under
his control for drawings and specifications.
17. PWD procedure of initiating the work
The PWD procedure of initiating the work is given in full
details as follows.
1. For any type of original work consult engineering
department prepares the proposal and report on the basis
of preliminary report which is already submitted to the
government.
2. The concerned engg. department will study the proposal
with respect to cost and all its necessary documents.
3. After studying the proposal well the department will submit
the same for administrative approval.
4. After administrative approval the engg. department will
prepare the detailed drawing, estimate and design of the
project. Then it is submitted for technical sanction.
18. 5. The competent authority will study drawing,
design, estimate and gives sanction within
rules and regulations of government.
6. After technical sanction budget provision is
made as per government fund provisions and
work is taken for execution.
7. The work is given to contractor by inviting the
tenders through tender notice.
19. Administrative approval
• For any work or project require by a dept. an
approval of the competent authority of the dept.
w.r.t. Cost is necessary at the first instance .this
approval authorizes the engg. dept. to take up
the work in hand.
• The administrative approval denotes the formal
acceptance of the concerned dept. for the said
proposal. Engg. Dept. prepares the preliminary
plans and approximate estimate and submit to
concerned dept for administrative approval.
20. • The engg. dept. takes up the work and
prepare plans, detail designs and estimates
and then execute the work only after
administrative approval is given by concerned
dept.
21. Budget provision
• For any work or project it is necessary to
provide finance oroginally the estimates are
prepared by PWD and sent to the secretary of
the dept. and consequently to the finance
dept,.
• The assurance of finance dept. for allotment
of funds to the estimates, fully or partly,
submitted above in writing is known as budget
provision. Engg. Dept takes up execution
22. Technical Sanction
• After obtaining the approval a detailed
estimate and detailed drawings are prepared
and sanctioning of competent authority is
obtained such sanctioning is termed as
technical sanctioning.
23. Methods used in P.W.D for carrying out
the work
a. Rate List Method
b. Contract Method.
c. Piece Work Method
d. Day Work Method
e. Employing Daily Labour
24. • Employing labour on daily basis-In this method,
labourers like Mazdoor, carpenter etc are
engaged by Asst. Engineer and their wages are
drawn as per NMR.
• Rate List - Works costing up to Rs.25000/- can be
carried out by rate list method. PWD has list of
petty contractors to carry out small jobs of repair
/maintenance. An undertaking is taken from
petty contractors to under take a work at specific
conditions
25. • Piece work- FOR small/routine works of less
cost this method is advisable. The contractor
agrees to execute the work at certain agreed
rates without consideration of total quantity
or duration .
• Day work- system of costing for valuing a work
which can not be measured accurately on the
basis of materials /labour used for
completion.
26. • Contract- the agreement between PWD and
contractor for execution of work under
specific terms and conditions for certain
amount of money.
