Public Works Department (India). The Public Works Department (PWD)  in India is a governmental organization responsible for the construction, maintenance, and management of public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, buildings, and water systems. It is one of the oldest and most significant institutions in India, originally established during the British colonial period and later reorganized post-independence.

History 
The PWD's origins date back to 1854 when it was formalized under British rule. Initially focused on road construction and irrigation works, the department played a crucial role in developing India's early infrastructure. After India's independence in 1947, the PWD was reorganized and decentralized, with each state forming its own PWD to cater to regional infrastructure needs.

Organizational Structure 
PWD operates at both the central and state levels:

 Central Public Works Department (CPWD): Functions under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, handling federal infrastructure projects such as government buildings, national highways, and major public works.
 State Public Works Departments: Each state has its own PWD responsible for infrastructure within its jurisdiction. These state-level PWDs report to their respective state governments.

The department is organized hierarchically, with positions such as chief engineer, superintending engineer, executive engineer, and assistant engineer overseeing operations.

State Public Works Departments in India 

 Karnataka Public Works Department
 Kerala Public Works Department
 Tamil Nadu Public Works Department
 Maharashtra Public Works Department
 Roads and Buildings Department, Gujarat
 Delhi Public Works Department
 Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department
 West Bengal Public Works Department
 Rajasthan Public Works Department
 Uttarakhand Public Works Department
 Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department
 Odisha Public Works Department
 Nagaland Public Works Department 
 Assam Public Works Department 
 Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department
 Arunachal Pradesh Public Works Department
 Bihar Rural Work Department

Responsibilities 
PWD undertakes a broad range of responsibilities, including:

 Roads and highways: Construction, maintenance, and widening of roads and highways to ensure connectivity between urban and rural areas.
 Bridges and culverts: Building and maintaining bridges to support transportation networks.
 Public buildings: Designing, constructing, and maintaining government offices, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities.
 Water supply and irrigation: Developing water supply systems and managing irrigation projects in certain states.
 Disaster recovery: Rebuilding and restoring infrastructure damaged by natural disasters.

Main wings 

 Golden Quadrilateral: The CPWD played a role in developing this highway network, connecting major metropolitan cities.
 Government complexes: Construction of iconic government buildings, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament House in New Delhi.
 State highways and roads: Enhancing rural and urban connectivity through extensive road networks.

References 

Government agencies of India
Public works ministries
Government of India