Who among the following established the Public Works Department (PWD)

Who among the following established the Public Works Department (PWD) in India?

Lord Dalhousie
Lord Bentinck
Lord Cornwallis
Warren Hastings
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2022
Lord Dalhousie established the Public Works Department (PWD) in India.
Lord Dalhousie, who served as Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856, significantly reorganized the administration. He is credited with creating a separate Public Works Department (PWD) to manage and develop infrastructure like roads, railways, irrigation canals, and buildings, which was previously handled inefficiently by military boards.
Dalhousie’s tenure is known for his aggressive annexation policy (Doctrine of Lapse) and significant modernization efforts, including the introduction of railways, telegraph, and postal reforms, alongside the establishment of the PWD.