IRC Seminar on "Best Practices, Emerging Trends and Technologies in Planning, Construction and Maintenance of Bridges" – Organized By Indian Road Congress in cooperation with PWD, Govt. of Assam on 25th and 26th April 2025 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Guwahati

Origin of IRC

The origin of Indian Roads Congress (IRC) the Apex Body of Road Sector Engineers and Professionals in the country can be traced back to the Road Development Committee set up under the Chairmanship of Shri M.R. Jayakkar in 1927 by the then Government of India, which recommended for periodical holding of Road Conferences to discuss the issues related to Road Construction, Maintenance & Development. The first such Road Conference was held in April, 1930. Subsequently with the formalization of Road Fund, creation of a wider and permanent organization in place of Periodical Road Conferences was felt and thus, the IRC came into being

The Inaugural Meeting of IRC was held at the Town Hall, New Delhi on Monday the 10th December 1934 under the Chairmanship of Mr. D.G.Mitchell, Secretary to the then Govt. of India in the department of Industries and Labour, Public Works Branch. This meeting was attended by 73 Engineers, from all parts of the then India. This marked the birth of the Indian Roads Congress

When the activities of the IRC expanded, IRC was formally registered as a Society on 24th September 1937 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860

Over the years the Indian Roads Congress has burgeoned and grown into a multi-dimensional, many-faceted, unique organization, devoted to the cause of better roads in the country. Starting with a modest membership of 73 in 1934, the Congress now has more than 20018 members, of which, 18,514 are life members comprising engineers of all ranks from Central and State Governments, Engineering Services of Army, Border Roads Organization, Road Research Institutes, Engineering Colleges, Local Bodies, and commercial organizations.

Vision of IRC

To be the Nation’s most representative professional, multifaceted transnational institution, committed to take into cognizance the global best practices and pool collective wisdom to promote the use of Standard Specifications conforming to cutting edge technologies for construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and road transportation.
To focus on effective transport system aiming of zero road crash fatalities and contribute to the economic growth and quality of life.
To align itself to global initiatives of environmental strategy for promotion of cleaner, less energy intensive and less polluting construction techniques, use of recycled wastes; minimize drawing of natural resources and encourage the profession to aim at earning carbon credit in life cycle analysis for construction/transportation projects under Environment Management Plan (EMP).