Marking a first in nearly three decades, the Uttar Pradesh government is set to overhaul the Public Works Department (PWD) for speed and efficiency.
UP Chief Minister has sanctioned a fivefold increase in the financial powers of PWD officers and a comprehensive revision of the engineers’ service structure.
The move is aimed at granting greater autonomy to officers, reducing dependence on higher-level approvals, and expediting processes like tendering, contracting, and project execution.
At a PWD review meeting today, it was noted that financial powers were last revised in 1995, while construction costs have risen over 5.5 times since then, as per the Cost Inflation Index.
CM Yogi said the revision was essential to improve administrative efficiency, ensure timely project execution, and uphold financial discipline.
As such, the financial limits for civil works will be increased up to five times and for electrical and mechanical works at least two times.
The CM emphasised the reform will enhance both transparency and accountability in departmental functioning.
Under the new system, the Chief Engineer can now approve works up to Rs 10 crore, up from Rs 2 crore; the Superintending Engineer up to Rs 5 crore, up from Rs 1 crore; and the Executive Engineer up to Rs 2 crore, up from Rs 40 lakh.
Assistant Engineers will also receive limited authority to approve tenders and minor works.
He said this reform will expedite projects, reduce delays in approvals, and ensure greater administrative efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
The meeting also approved key amendments to the UP Engineer Service (PWD) (Higher) Rules, 1990, restructuring the electrical and mechanical cadres.
Yogi said the PWD plays a vital role in state development, timely and transparent service rules and a merit-driven promotion system are essential to enhance efficiency, technical quality, and the department’s service spirit.