Punjab Public Works Minister Vijay Inder Singla today released the fourth edition of Common Schedule of Rates (CSR-2020) along with Mr. Vikas Partap, Principal Secretary to the Department of Public Works.Congratulating the entire staff of PWD for their tremendous and efficacious inputs, Mr. Singla placed on record the reforms that will come up with the new edition of CSR in the forthcoming infrastructure projects. He informed that the maiden edition of the CSR was released in the year 1962 and subsequently amendments were made in the years 1987 and 2010. Now, after a gap of ten years this comprehensively revised edition of CSR 2020 has been released.Mr. Singla said that the state government is working extensively for the development of the state despite being under a sudden unforeseen economic crisis that arose due to the COVID-19 situation. The demands of contractors as well as economic upliftment of labourers have been specifically considered while preparing the new costs, said the Minister.PWD Minister also gave letter of appreciation to the staff of PWD, who worked round the clock for continuous two years to prepare the latest edition of CSR.Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Mr. Vikas Partap elaborated that the new edition has been published foreseeing the current and future requirements, technological advances and modified tax structures due to imposition of GST. While doing so, current market rates have been thoroughly studied and taken into consideration. Many new items have been included, thereby minimizing the need for Non-schedule items.Discussing various salient features of the current edition Mr. Virinderjeet Singh Dhindsa, Chief Engineer (HQ) PWD (B&R) discussed the incorporation of chapter-wise explanatory notes that put light on the reasoning of rates of items. Also, in this edition a new chapter on Green Buildings has been incorporated keeping in mind the new technology that is developing in the field of renewable sources of energy. A Statement of thanks was also conveyed for the Direction Committee of Chief Engineers which approved the release of this fourth edition of CSR.Er. Mukesh Goyal, Er. J.S. Mann, Er. T.S. Chahal, Er. Arun Kumar, Er. Raj Kumar (all Chief Engineers of PWD (B&R) and Ar. Sapna, Chief Architect, were also present on this occasion.