Public
works government in the State of Travancore (which later
formed the major part of Kerala State following the reorganisation
of states in 1956) made its beginning in the year 1823 with
the formation of the Maramath Department as a branch of
the Huzur Cutchery (Government Secretariat) with an executive
branch known as the Panivakai Maramath. The Administration
Report of the department for the year 1873-74 states that
"the new roads of which very nearly 1000 miles have been
either completely opened or are in various stages of progress
have tapped an enormous tract of the country hitherto almost
inaccessible, giving fresh impetus to agriculture".
The
PWD Code was introduced in 1901. The department was perodically
reorganised and in 1935-36, the administrative staff under
the Chief Engineer consisted of 7 Executive Engineers in
charge of divisions, 8 Assistant Engineers and 8 Sub-Engineers
in charge of sub-divisions and Supervisors and Overseers
in charge of sections. Over the years the department has
grown substantially and now has 5 Chief Engineers, 21 Superintending
Engineers, 74 Executive Engineers, 311 Assistant Executive
Engineers, 969 Assistant Engineers and other supporting
staff. The length of roads under the department at present
is 23292 km. All major arterial roads which provide mobility
are with the PWD, consisting of:
| National
Highways |
1,560
kms |
| State
Highways |
4,115
kms |
| Major
District Roads |
11,138
kms |
| Other
District Roads |
4,992
kms |
| Village
Roads under PWD |
1,487
kms |
