Manohar Lal Unveils ‘SANKALP’ Vision for CPWD, Calls for Faster and Technology-Driven Infrastructure Development
New Delhi: Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal on Sunday unveiled the ‘SANKALP’ framework as the new guiding vision for the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) during the department’s 172nd Annual Day celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The Minister said the framework will serve as a roadmap for transforming CPWD into a future-ready organisation focused on faster execution, transparency, technological innovation and public welfare. He added that the initiative would support the broader vision of Viksit Bharat through modern and efficient infrastructure development.
The acronym SANKALP represents:
S – Speed
A – Accessibility
N – Nekneeyat (Good Intent)
K – Kartavyanishtha (Dedication to Duty)
A – Adoption of Technology
L – Lokhit (Public Welfare)
P – Pardarshita (Transparency)
According to the Minister, these principles will guide CPWD’s future operations and help the organisation deliver quality infrastructure projects with greater efficiency.
Focus on Sustainable Construction and Digital Transformation
Addressing CPWD officers, employees and retired personnel, Manohar Lal emphasised the need to adopt sustainable construction practices and use emerging technologies to improve infrastructure delivery.
He highlighted the importance of:
Faster completion of government projects
Greater transparency in working systems
Digital transformation of processes
Strengthening institutional capacity
Efficient online transfer and posting mechanisms
The Minister said technology adoption would play a crucial role in improving project planning, monitoring and execution.
New Digital Initiatives and Publications Launched
During the Annual Day event, Manohar Lal launched several publications and digital initiatives aimed at improving CPWD’s functioning.
These included:
Technical publications
The annual in-house magazine Nirman Bharati
Newly developed e-NIRMIT Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) modules
The ERP modules are designed to improve project management, workflow monitoring and operational efficiency within the department.
The Minister also released the book “India’s Urban Transformation: Reflections from Policy and Practice” and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ coffee table book “India’s Urban Momentum: Towards Making Our Cities Liveable.”
These publications highlight India’s urban development journey and policy initiatives aimed at improving city infrastructure.
Awards Presented for Excellence
As part of the celebrations, the Minister presented:
Director General’s Medals
Commendation Certificates
Certificates of Merit
to officers, employees and project teams for their outstanding contributions.
Awards were also given for the best completed CPWD projects, while participants who successfully completed capacity-building programmes received certificates.
A documentary showcasing CPWD’s major infrastructure projects, modern construction technologies and implementation of e-NIRMIT ERP systems was also screened during the event.
Proposal for National Council for Public Works
Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Srinivas Katikithala congratulated CPWD on completing 172 years of service and said the department has evolved into a modern, technology-driven organisation capable of handling complex infrastructure projects.
He proposed establishing a National Council for Public Works to promote:
Innovation
Knowledge sharing
Capacity building
Standardisation in public infrastructure development
The Secretary said such a platform would encourage collaboration between Central and State government departments, academic institutions, industries and professional bodies.
He added that the council could help improve the quality, sustainability and efficiency of public works across the country.
CPWD Highlights Achievements and Future Roadmap
Earlier, CPWD Director General Satinder Pal Singh highlighted the department’s achievements over the past year and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure through innovation, professionalism and timely execution.
He said capacity building remains a key priority, with training programmes being conducted through the National CPWD Academy in collaboration with leading institutions.
Singh also highlighted the increasing use of advanced technologies, including:
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Digital project management tools
Advanced construction materials
Automation technologies
These technologies, he said, are helping improve productivity, quality, sustainability and transparency in government construction projects.
Technical Sessions Held Ahead of Annual Day
Before the Annual Day celebrations, CPWD organised a technical session on July 11, where IIT Hyderabad professor K.V.L. Subramaniam delivered a keynote address on emerging technologies and sustainable construction practices.
A Senior Officers’ Conference was also organised to discuss ongoing reforms, project delivery mechanisms, capacity building and CPWD’s future strategy.
With the launch of the SANKALP framework, CPWD aims to strengthen its role as a modern public infrastructure agency aligned with India’s long-term development goals.
