Study of various IRCs & SPs

Indian Road Congress (IRC)

The Indian Roads Congress (IRC) is the Apex Body of Highway Engineers in the country.
The IRC was set up in December, 1934 on the recommendations of the Indian Road
Development Committee best known as Jayakar Committee set up by the Govt. of India with
the objective of Road Development in India.

Origin:

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. Jayakar 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.
Starting with a modest membership of 73 in 1934, the IRC has more than five million
associates (direct/indirect) and over 16,700 registered members comprising of engineers
& professionals of all Stakeholders of road sector from Central and State Governments,
Public Sector, Research Institutions, Local bodies, Private sector, Concessionaires,
Contractors, Consultants, Equipment manufacturers Machinery manufacturers, Material
producers & suppliers, Industrial Associations, Multilateral & Institutional organization
like World Bank, ADB, JICA, JRA, IRF etc.

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Vision:

To be the Nations most representative professional, multifaceted transnational institution,

committed to take into cognizance the globally 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).
Mission:

To be the lead National Forum for sharing of knowledge and to pool our experiences and
expertise collectively on the entire range of subjects related with road sector including the
connected policy issues on road construction and road transportation.
To promote the use of standard specifications confirming to the cutting edge technologies
for construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, tunnels and road transportation.
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 road/transportation projects under Environment
Management Plan (EMP).
To promote efficient and well integrated transport system that serves the public interest by
enhancing mobility and delivery safe, secure and environmentally responsible.
To create mass awareness to follow traffic regulations and ethics thereof.
To pool knowledge (Library) with exchange facility through web to the reputed national
and international organizations engaged in the profession and shared publications and
literature conforming to cutting edge technologies.
To advice regarding planning and design, transportation, legislation and research
connected with development and maintenance of roads and road transportation.

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Administrative Setup:

The affairs of the IRC are guided by a Council of the society. For managing the affairs of
IRC, the powers are vested with Executive Committee (EC) which comprises of the
President, IRC, Immediate Past President, four Vice-Presidents, Honorary Treasurer and
Secretary General. IRC Secretariat is headed by Secretary General.
The tenure of the Council is for one year and is represented by the members from each
State/ Union Territories by nominations besides member representatives nominated by
important road owning Government departments, Ten elected members representing
research institutions, municipalities, local bodies, Private Sector, etc. and Two ladies
Members.
IRC works in close collaboration with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
(MoRTH). The Director General (Road Development) & Special Secretary, MoRTH, is
the Honorary Treasurer of the IRC.

Apex Committees of IRC:

There are three Apex committees, which are responsible for formulation and up gradation
of Codes of Practices, Standards and Guidelines. They are
Highways Specifications & Standards Committee (HSS);
Bridges Specifications & Standards Committee (BSS) &
General Specifications & Standards Committee (GSS).
Technical committees under each apex committees:
The HSS deals with all aspects of roads, traffic, transportation, maintenance. The following
ten Technical Committees are working under it:-
H-1 Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering
H-2 Flexible Pavement and Airfields & Runways Committee
H-3 Rigid Pavement
H-4 Embankment, Ground Improvement and Drainage
H-5 Rural Roads
H-6 Road Maintenance and Asset Management
H-7 Road Safety & Design
H-8 Urban Roads

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 H-9 Composite Pavement
H-10- Hill Roads & Tunnels
The BSS deals with design, construction and maintenance aspects of bridges. The following
nine Technical committees are working under it:-
B-1 General Design Features (Bridges and Grade Separated Structures)
B-2 Loads and Stresses
B-3 Foundation, Substructure, Protective Works & masonry Structures
B-4 Concrete (Plain, Reinforced and Pre-Stressed Structures)
B-5 Steel and Composite Structure
B-6 Bearings, Joints and Appurtenances
B-7 Formwork and Temporary Structures
B-8 - Maintenance and Rehabilitation
B-9 - Specialized Bridge Structures Including Sealinks
Besides, B-10 (Special purpose) Development of Standard Design and Plans for
various types of Bridge Superstructures based on Limit State Method (MoRTHs
deposit work/through Consultancy)
The GSS deals with general aspects of road and bridge engineering. The following five
Technical Committees are working under it:-
G-1 Project Preparation, Contracts Management & Quality Assurance and
Public Private Partnership
G-2 Human Resource Development Committee
G-3 Committee on Reduction of Carbon Footprint in Road Construction and
Environment
G-4 Mechanization & Instrumentation Committee
G-6 Disaster Management Committee
The DG (RD) & SS, MORTH, President IRC and Secretary General, IRC are 3
Ex-Officio members of all the Technical Committees.
The number of experts in each of the Technical Committees is 25 regular members
and 5 corresponding members/co-opted members.
The total number of experts in the 3 Apex Committees is 40 in number.
Highway Research Board:

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In October, 1973, the Highway Research Board (HRB) was set-up under the auspices of the
IRC for giving undivided attention to research and development activities. The objectivities
of the HRB are:
To ascertain the nature and extent of research required; to correlate research
information from various organizations in India and abroad with a view to exchange
publications on roads:
To coordinate and conduct correlation services;
To sponsor basic research through universities and research organizations;
To collect and disseminate results of research; and
Any other matter related to road research.
There are three committees under HRB, namely;
Committee for Identification, Monitoring and Research Application (IMRA)
Committee for Accreditation of New Materials/ Techniques/Technology/Instruments,
etc.
Committee on Pilot Projects to introduce innovations and support innovative ideas in
the road sector.

Achievements:

There have been a number of achievements during the 81 years of existence of IRC.
Some of the notable achievements are listed as under:-
Starting from long term Road Development Plan under the aegis of IRC in 1943 famously
known as Nagpur Plan set up the foundation for subsequent 20 years Road
Development Plans for the country on all India basis.
The 20 years subsequent Road Development Plans laid the foundation for functional
classification of road network and criteria for road activity in developed and undeveloped
areas in the country. These plans have served as sound reference framework both at
Central and State level to formulate their successive 5 year plans. The subsequent 20 year
plans were formulated in close association with the Ministry of Road Transport &
Highways.
IRC have published 119 number of Codes of Practices for Specifications & Standards;
106 number of Special Publications on Guidelines and Manuals, 33 number of
publications on behalf of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; 2 each publications
on behalf of National Highways Authority of India and Ministry of Rural Development;

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 23 number of State-of-the-Art Reports on Highway Research; 77 Highway Research
Bulletin; 13 Highway Research Journals besides 40 Highway Research Records.

ListofIndianRoadCongress(IRC)Publications

SL.NO. CODENO. TITLEOFTHEPUBLICATION

1 IRC:31983 DimensionsandWeightsof
RoadDesignVehicles(First
Revision)
2 IRC:51998 Standardspecificationsand
CodeofpracticeforRoad
Bridges,Section1General
featuresofDesign(Seventh
Revision)
3 IRC:62000 Standardspecificationsand
CodeofpracticeforRoad
bridges,sectionIILoadsand
Stresses(FourthRevision)
4 IRC:91972 TrafficCensusonNonUrban
Roads(FirstRevision)
5 IRC:101961 RecommendedPracticefor
BorrowpitsforRoad
EmbankmentsConstructedby
ManualOperation
6 IRC:152002 Standardspecificationsand
Codeofpracticefor
ConstructionofConcreteRoads
(ThirdRevision)
7 IRC:182000 DesignCriteriaforPrestressed
ConcreteRoadBridges(Post
TensionedConcrete)(Third
Revision)
8 IRC:192005 Standardspecificationsand
CodeofpracticeforWater
BoundMacadam(Third
Revision)
9 IRC:212000 Standardspecificationsand
CodeofpracticeforRoad
Bridges,SectionIIICement
Concrete(PlainandReinforced)
(ThirdRevision)
10 IRC:221986 Standardspecificationsand
CodeofpracticeforRoad
Bridges,SectionVIComposite
Construction(FirstRevision)

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SL.NO. CODENO. TITLEOFTHEPUBLICATION
11 IRC:242001 Standardspecificationsand
CodeofpracticeforRoad
Bridges,SectionVSteelRoad
Bridges(SecondRevision)
12 IRC:281967 TentativeSpecificationsforthe
ConstructionofStabilizedSoil
RoadswithSoftAggregatein
AreasofModerateandHigh
Rainfall
13 IRC:321969 StandardforVerticaland
HorizontalClearancesof
OverheadElectricPowerand
TelecommunicationLinesas
RelatedtoRoads
14 IRC:331969 StandardProcedurefor
EvaluationandCondition
SurveysofStabilizedSoilRoads
15 IRC:341970 RecommendationsforRoad
ConstructioninWaterlogged
Areas
16 IRC:361970 RecommendedPracticeforthe
ConstructionofEarth
EmbankmentsforRoadWorks
17 IRC:372001 GuidelinesfortheDesignof
FlexiblePavements(Second
Revision)
18 IRC:381988 GuidelinesforDesignof
HorizontalCurvesforHighways
andDesignTables(First
Revision)
19 IRC:402002 Standardspecificationsand
CodeofpracticeforRoad
Bridges,SectionIVBrickStone
andBlockMasonry(Second
Revision)
20 IRC:421972 ProformaforRecordofTest
ValuesofLocallyAvailable
PavementConstruction
Materials
21 IRC:441976 TentativeGuidelinesforCement
ConcreteMixDesignfor
Pavements(forNonAir
EntrainedandContinuously
GradedConcrete)(First
Revision)
22 IRC:451972 Recommendationsfor
EstimatingtheResistanceofSoil

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SL.NO. CODENO. TITLEOFTHEPUBLICATION
BelowtheMaximumScour
LevelintheDesignofWell
FoundationsofBridges.
23 IRC:491973 RecommendedPracticeforthe
PulverizationofBlackCotton
SoilsforLimeStabilization.
24 IRC:501973 RecommendedDesignCriteria
fortheUseofCement
ModifiedSoilinRoad
Construction
25 IRC:511992 GuidelinesfortheUseofSoil
LimeMixesinRoad
Construction(FirstRevision)
26 IRC:522001 RecommendationsAboutthe
AlignmentSurveyand
GeometricDesignofHillRoads
(SecondRevision)
27 IRC:531982 RoadAccidentFormsA1and4
(FirstRevision)
28 IRC:541974 LateralandVerticalClearances
atUnderpassesforVehicular
Traffic
29 IRC:561974 RecommendedPracticefor
TreatmentofEmbankment
SlopesforErosionControl
30 IRC:571974 RecommendedPracticefor
SealingofJointsinConcrete
Pavements
31 IRC:582002 GuidelinesfortheDesignof
PlainJointedRigidPavements
forHighways(SecondRevision)
32 IRC:591976 TentativeGuidelinesforthe
DesignofgapGradedCement
ConcreteMixesforRoad
Pavements
33 IRC:611976 TentativeGuidelinesforthe
ConstructionofCement
ConcretePavementsinHot
Weather
34 IRC:631976 TentativeGuidelinesfortheUse
ofLowGradeAggregatesand
SoilAggregateMixturesinRoad
PavementConstruction
35 IRC:641990 GuidelinesforCapacityof
RoadsinRuralAreas(First
Revision)
36 IRC:651976 RecommendedPracticefor

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SL.NO. CODENO. TITLEOFTHEPUBLICATION
TrafficRotaries
37 IRC:661976 RecommendedPracticeforSite
DistanceonRuralHighways
38 IRC:691977 SpaceStandardsforRoadsin
UrbanAreas
39 IRC:701977 GuidelinesonRegulationand
ControlofMixedTrafficin
UrbanAreas
40 IRC:731980 GeometricDesignStandardsfor
Rural(NonUrban)Highways
41 IRC:751979 GuidelinesfortheDesignof
HighEmbankments
42 IRC:761979 TentativeGuidelinesfor
StructuralStrengthEvaluationof
RigidAirfieldPavements
43 IRC:771979 TentativeGuidelinesforRepair
ofConcretePavementsUsing
SyntheticResins
44 IRC:782000 Standardspecificationsand
CodeofpracticeforRoad
Bridges,SectionVII
FoundationsandSubstructure
(SecondRevision)
45 IRC:811997 GuidelinesforStrengtheningof
FlexibleRoadPavementsUsing
BenkelmanBeamDeflection
Technique(FirstRevision)
46 IRC:821982 CodeofPracticefor
MaintenanceofBituminous
SurfacesofHighways
47 IRC:831999 Standardspecificationsand
CodeofpracticeforRoad
Bridges,SectionIXBearings,
PartI:MetallicBearings(First
Revision)
48 IRC:831987 Standardspecificationsand
(PartII) CodeofpracticeforRoad
Bridges,SectionIXBearings,
PartII:ElastometricBearings
49 IRC:831987 Standardspecificationsand
(PartIII) CodeofpracticeforRoad
Bridges,SectionIXBearings,
PartIII:POT,POTCUM
PTFE,PINandMetallicGuide
Bearings
50 IRC:841983 CodeofPracticeforCuringof
CementConcretePavements

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 SL.NO. CODENO. TITLEOFTHEPUBLICATION
51 IRC:861983 GeometricDesignStandardsfor
UrbanRoadsinPlains
52 IRC:891997 GuidelinesforDesignand
ConstructionofRiverTraining
andControlWorksforRoad
Bridges(FirstRevision)
53 IRC:921985 GuidelinesfortheDesignof
InterchangesinUrbanAreas
54 IRC:931985 GuidelinesonDesignand
InstallationofRoadTraffic
Signals
55 IRC:1011988 GuidelinesforDesignof
ContinuouslyReinforced
ConcretePavementswithelastic
Joints
56 IRC:1021988 TrafficStudiesforPlanning
BypassesAroundTowns
57 IRC:1041988 GuidelinesForEnvironmental
ImpactAssessmentOfHighway
Projects
58 IRC:1061990 GuidelinesforCapacityof
UrbanRoadsinPlainAreas
59 IRC:1081996 GuidelinesforTrafficPrediction
onRuralHighways
60 IRC:1091997 GuidelinesforWetMixMacadam

II. IRC SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS (SPs)

61 TentativeRecommendationson
IRC:SP:121973
theProvisionofparkingSpaces
forUrbanAreas
62 IRC:SP:132004 GuidelinesfortheDesignof
SmallBridgesandCulverts
(FirstRevision)
63 IRC:SP:162004 GuidelinesforSurfaceEvenness
ofHighwayPavements(First
Revision)
64 IRC:SP:171977 RecommendationsAbout
OverlaysonCementConcrete
Pavements
65 IRC:SP:181978 ManualforHighwayBridge
MaintenanceInspection
66 IRC:SP:231983 VerticalCurvesforHighways
67 IRC:SP:241984 GuidelinesontheChoiceand
PlanningofAppropriate
TechnologyinRoad

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SL.NO. CODENO. TITLEOFTHEPUBLICATION
Construction
68 IRC:SP:301993 ManualonEconomicEvaluation
ofHighwayProjectsinIndia
(FirstRevision)
69 IRC:SP:351990 GuidelinesforInspectionand
MaintenanceofBridges
70 IRC:SP:371991 GuidelinesforEvaluationof
LoadCarryingCapacityof
Bridges
71 IRC:SP:401993 GuidelinesonTechniquesfor
StrengtheningandRehabilitation
ofBridges
72 IRC:SP:411994 GuidelinesonDesignofAt
GradeIntersectionsinRural
&UrbanAreas
73 IRC:SP:421994 GuidelinesonRoadDrainage
74 IRC:SP:431994 GuidelinesonLowCostTraffic
ManagementTechniquefor
UrbanAreas
75 IRC:SP:441996 HighwaySafetyCode
76 IRC:SP:471998 GuidelinesonQualitySystems
forRoadBridges.(Plain,
Reinforced,Prestressedand
CompositeConcrete)
77 IRC:SP:491998 GuidelinesfortheuseofDry
LeanConcreteasSubbasefor
RigidPavement
78 IRC:SP:501999 GuidelinesonUrbanDrainage
79 IRC:SP:521999 BridgeInspectorsReference
Manual
80 IRC:SP:542000 ProjectPreparationManualfor
Bridges
81 IRC:SP:562000 GuidelinesforSteelPedestrian
Bridges
82 IRC:SP:592002 GuidelinesforUseof
GeotextilesinRoadPavements
andAssociatedWorks
83 IRC:SP:602002 AnApproachDocumentforAssessmentofRemaining
Life
ofConcreteBridges

III.MINISTRYOFSURFACETRANSPORTPUBLICATIONS
(NowMinistryofShipping,RoadTransportandHighways)

SL.NO. CODENO. TITLEOFTHEPUBLICATION

84 MORT&HPocketBookfor

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 BridgeEngineers,2000(First
Revision)
85 MORT&HPocketBookfor
HighwayEngineers,2002
(SecondRevision)

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