The Public Works Department execute the construction, improvement, strengthening and maintenance of roads and bridges. The responsibility of construction of certain buildings of the state government and their maintenance is also upon this department. The department undertakes the maintenance of National Highways passing through Uttarakhand which are not covered by the National Highways Authority for which funds are provided by the Government of India.

Uttarakhand was carved out of the northern part of Uttar Pradesh on 9^th Nov; 2000. It is bounded by U.P. on the South, Nepal on the East, Himachal Pradesh on the west and China on the north-east. The geographical area of the state is 53,483 sq.km. It ranks at 18^th place and it’s share is 1.69% of the country's area as a whole. The major part of the state of Uttarakhand is hilly.Geographically, it is situated in the central Himalayan zone. It extends between 77^o 34' and 81^o 02' E longitude and 28^o 43' to 31^o 27' N latitude. The topography of Uttarakhand is characterized by hilly terrain, rugged and rocky Mountains, deep valleys, high peaks, sharp streams and rivulets, rapid soil erosion, frequent landslides and widely scattered habitations.

For the State's industrial, economic and social development it is essential to connect each village and its population with the main roads. Besides, the widening and high-quality repair of important National Highways, state roads and district roads is also important for transportation. The P.W.D. is executing the work of construction and improvement of link roads in rural areas, widening and improvement of other district roads, main district roads and state roads, construction of bridges in rural areas and repair of narrow and damaged bridges on main routes on a priority basis. In addition, it is also doing the work of construction of link roads in rural areas  and strengthening of previously-built rural and other roads.