CPWD could continue as attached office of MoHUA: Report

A report prepared by global consultancy firm, Ernst and Young, has suggested that the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) continue as an attached office of the housing and urban affairs ministry (MoHUA). The move could dispel fear of corporatisation of the 162-year-old department among its workers. The government had roped in the consultancy in May this year to study the functioning of CPWD, a move opposed by the workers' unions who termed it as an attempt by the Modi government to "corporatize" the department. The report titled 'Working and Reorganisation of CPWD for Improved Efficiency and Effectiveness' was presented to Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today. Besides suggesting that CPWD could continue as an attached office of the ministry, the report recommended gradual outsourcing of 'maintenance functions' of the construction major to reputed private agencies, an official release said. The report also stressed on the need for the Central Public Works Department to focus on its core area of construction, leaving the maintenance of residential properties to outsourcing. HUA Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra discussed the recommendations with Tomar and it was decided that the department will initiate action to outsource maintenance functions in select areas of Delhi, and a road map will be evolved to implement other recommendations after detailed examination, the release said. At present, over half of the total strength of 21,806 personnel of CPWD is engaged in maintenance works. A ministry official said outsourcing will not impact the workers engaged in maintenance works. "It (outsourcing) will be gradually implemented and most of the workers are above 50 years. They would retire in a few years," he said. The report also recommended reduction in hierarchy from present eight levels to two-three layers by categorising projects into small, medium and large. As against present mode of selection of Director General (DG) of CPWD based on seniority, it has been recommended that DG be chosen from a panel of senior officers. Extensive use of technology has been recommended for effective monitoring and resource utilisation. Proper integration of different wings of CPWD like civil, electrical, horticultural and architecture cadres under common command is among the other recommendations, the release said. The recommendations have been made after over 50 per cent of works by CPWD were getting delayed coupled with lower levels of satisfaction over maintenance services, it added.