84th Indian Roads Congress Begins in Bhubaneswar

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to Inaugurate; Over 3,500 Delegates Join from Across India
• 75,000 km of roads are planned to be constructed in Odisha
• Modern Road Construction Technologies and Innovations Showcased

Bhubaneswar, swa news : The 84th Annual Session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) is being held in Odisha. Since the establishment of IRC in 1934, Odisha has hosted the event five times earlier, and this marks the sixth occasion for the state. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate and address the conference. Odisha is hosting the IRC again after a decade, the previous session having been held in 2015.

Addressing a press conference at Janata Maidan, Odisha’s Law, Works and Excise Minister Shri Prithviraj Harichandan shared that the conference will serve as a vital platform for knowledge exchange among experts and engineers in road infrastructure. He also informed that 75,000 km of roads are planned to be constructed in Odisha over the next five years.

The IRC annual session brings together engineers, policy makers, researchers, academicians, industry stakeholders and public authorities from across the country to discuss advancements and policies in the roads and highways sector. The theme for this year’s sessions is ‘Major Advances in Highway Technology and Policy’.

IRC serves as a premier professional body for road engineers and planners in India, with participation from central and state government departments, including NHAI, MoRTH, BRO, MES, NRIDA, NHIDCL, Public Works Departments of States/UTs, Public Sector Undertakings, IITs, engineering institutions, research organisations and contracting agencies. The organisation aims to promote innovation and best practices in the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of roads, bridges and tunnels across the country.

Among others IRC President Shri Manoranjan Parida, Principal Secretary of the Works Department Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh (IAS), and Local Organising Secretary Er. Manas Ranjan Behera were present.

Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers Shri Ajay Tamta and Shri Harsh Malhotra, Odisha Minister for Law, Works and Excise Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, and Madhya Pradesh Public Works Minister Shri Rakesh Singh will grace in the inaugural ceremony. 

The four-day event (November 7–10) has brought together over 3,500 delegates, including engineers, researchers, policymakers, and industry experts from across India. The session aims to foster knowledge sharing, technological exchange, and collaboration to strengthen India’s road infrastructure.  The Congress features 19 thematic sessions focusing on innovation, sustainable road construction, cost optimization, and advanced tunneling techniques. Key meetings include the 235th IRC Council Meeting, 85th Indian Roads Research Board Meeting, and several sessions involving state and central officials, international organizations, and multilateral agencies. A major attraction of the event is the Open-to-Sky’ Exhibition, where 20 stalls are displaying live demonstrations of road-building technologies, including mechanized mastic asphalt, fly ash utilization, porous concrete, and Nano-Modified Bitumen (NMB).

To facilitate smooth participation, accommodations have been arranged in 30 hotels with over 800 rooms, and nearly 900 vehicles have been deployed for delegate transport. Post-event tours to Puri and Konark have been scheduled for November 10, offering delegates a glimpse of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage. Reflecting the spirit of Odia hospitality, the event also features traditional cuisine and cultural performances, making the 84th Indian Roads Congress not only a platform for innovation and collaboration but also a celebration of Odisha’s warmth and tradition.