The Public Works Department (PWD) is a key organization that creates huge social assets. It forms effective means of communication by building roads and bridges, thus transforming physical structures into public assets. Hospitals, Government Offices, Fire Stations, Heritage structures and all other important Public Buildings are built/ maintained by PWD. Since coming into being, PWD has played an important role in building infrastructure for public use and welfare as well as having various responsibilities for emergent activities.

PWD also provides infrastructural support for both original and repair works to all the departments directly under the Government of West Bengal as well as different semi-Government/ Government Undertakings. Besides construction of buildings/ structures, Bridges, Roads including National and State highways, PWD also carry out works related to electrification, sanitary plumbing, air-conditioning, fire-fighting & detection, lifts, Generators, EPABX and Information Technology. Therefore, one can imagine the huge task assigned to the PWD Engineers.

The department has an elaborate organizational set up headed by the Minister-In-Charge. The Minister-in-Charge makes different policies for betterment of public services and these policies are implemented through the Secretary of the Department and by the active guidance of the Minister-in-Charge of the department. For implementation of different policies and execution of works throughout the State, PWD has two engineering directorates headed by Chief Engineer Headquarters and one coordinating head i.e., Engineer-in-Chief. There are a number of Chief Engineers in PWD under the control of the Secretary who are responsible to look after and monitor the different works in different fields. PWD is also responsible to give technical expertise to the other non-engineering departments of the State. The Department has also one dedicated financial wing headed by the Financial Adviser to look after the financial matters of the department as well as to guide the department to take decisions which have financial involvement.

Apart from these, the Department undertakes some extended responsibilities in social areas also. With the allotted sum, this department in the changed scenario is geared up to undertake any responsibility for the development and progress of the state through construction of roads, bridges and buildings.

The P.W. Department is entrusted with the development and maintenance of roads, bridges and buildings that cover from difficult hilly areas of Darjeeling to coastal areas of mangroves at the Sundarbans and areas around Digha. For equitable economic growth, development of physical infrastructure is a must and PWD is striving towards this goal.