The Union government has approved Delhi’s proposal to create a separate engineering cadre for the Public Works Department (PWD), transferring 3,214 sanctioned engineering posts from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) cadre to Delhi’s control. The decision clears the way for an independent Delhi PWD Engineering Cadre, an administrative reform that had remained pending for nearly three decades.
The approval follows the Delhi Cabinet’s clearance of the proposal. The cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, according to the Delhi government. The 3,214 posts cover 36 categories in the PWD’s engineering wing.
Until now, Delhi PWD’s engineering services have largely depended on the CPWD cadre, with appointments made through the Centre’s system. The Delhi government said the separate arrangement would allow it to manage the department’s engineering requirements more directly.
Chief Minister Gupta said the new cadre would help the government ensure an adequate availability of engineers, fill vacancies faster and monitor projects more effectively. She also said it would support the execution of works in line with Delhi’s requirements.
The decision comes as Delhi is expected to undertake several major public infrastructure projects. These include the construction of a new Secretariat and mini-secretariats in all 11 districts, in addition to roads, bridges, office buildings and other public assets.
The Delhi government said a separate engineering structure would allow accountability and performance monitoring to be linked more closely with its administrative framework. The stated objective is to strengthen the engineering system and improve oversight of works handled by the PWD.
PWD Minister Parvesh Verma described the approval as a landmark decision after nearly three decades of delay. “For nearly three decades, Delhi awaited this important reform. The approval for a separate Delhi PWD Engineering Cadre is a landmark decision that will give the capital a stronger, more accountable and future-ready engineering system,” he said.
Verma said the separate cadre would accelerate infrastructure projects, improve transparency and support the delivery of roads, bridges, public buildings and other civic infrastructure. His comments linked the administrative change to the government’s planned infrastructure programme, but the source report did not specify an implementation date for the new cadre or the process for filling the sanctioned posts.
The approval changes the institutional arrangement under which Delhi PWD’s engineering personnel have been appointed and managed. The department’s next steps will determine how the 3,214 posts are organised across the 36 categories and how quickly vacancies can be filled under the new system.
