Central Public Works Department, India

The Central Public Works Department of India (Hindi: केंद्रीय लोक निर्माण विभाग), commonly referred to as the CPWD, is a central government owned authority in charge of public sector works. 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. It has now grown into a comprehensive construction management department, which provides services from project concept to completion, and maintenance management.

It is headed by the Director General (DG) who is also the Principal Technical Advisor to the Government of India. The incumbent DG is Mr. Abhai Sinha. 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. Now A Days, a new post of Chief Project Manager (CPM) has been created to head major prestigious projects of CPWD. CPMs are equivalent to the rank of Chief Engineers in CPWD. With country wide presence, the strength of CPWD is its ability to undertake construction of Complex Projects even in difficult terrains 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:

1) B&R (Buildings and Roads)

2) E&M (Electrical and Mechanical)

3) Horticlture

There are three cadres in CPWD:

1) CAS (Central Architecture Services)

2) CES (Central Engineering Services) (केन्द्रिय अभियंत्रिकी सेवाएं)-for Civil Engineers

3) CEMES (Central Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Services) (केन्द्रिय विधुत एवं यात्रिकी अभियंत्रिकी सेवाएं)-for Mechanical & Electrical Engineers

These are Group A Civil Services. (List of all Group A Civil Services: Civil Services of India)

The recruitment as entry level for middle management is made through Architecture Services Examination and Engineering Services Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission. Only top candidates in ESE get a chance to join CPWD strictly on merit basis. During probation period, the selected candidates undergo rigorous training of 35 weeks at National CPWD Academy situated in Ghaziabad (U.P). which transforms them into competent Architects/Engineers cum bureaucrats. During the normal career progression one rises to Chief Architect/Engineer, then to Additional Director General and further to Special Director General. There is one post of Director General, CPWD who also acts as technical advisor to the Government of India.

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