The Road Research Laboratory (RRL) of the Public Works Department was established with the creation of the post of Research Officer on 13th June, 1969 and the post of Director RRL (in the rank of Superintending Engineer) was created on 4th Nov' 1977 vide Govt. of Assam, Public Works Department Order No. RBEB.136/77/3. The RRL was upgraded and renamed as the Assam Road Research and Training Institute (ARR&TI) vide Govt. of Assam Notification No. RBEB.82/2013/31 dated 7th June 2013 and it is under the control and operation of the Public Works Roads Department (PWRD), Government of Assam.

ARR&TI is an important institution for the Government of Assam and has potential to play a key role in training for the State. In the past substantial efforts were made to enhance the role and performance of ARR&TI.

ARR&TI is further accessed as an important Government Organization taking into consideration the role it has been playing till now, and the future role it should play, in enhancement of human capital at Assam PWRD, including the higher ranks. The skill development and promotion of in-service staff is administered through examinations for which Director ARR&TI is the chairperson.

Rural Connectivity Training & Research Centre(RCTRC): RCTRC was set up at Guwahati(Assam) in ARR&TI, PWRD campus at Fatashil Ambari under Rural Connectivity Improvement Program(RCIP) with the assistance of ADB, through PMGSY with the main objective to (i) conduct systematic training of Engineers involved in the management of the rural road network, technicians, site supervisors, concerned staff of Panchayati Raj Institutions, design consultants and contractors, and (ii) support a sustainable practice-oriented research on rural roads.

Section Assistant Training Centre(SATC): This organization which was originally created in PWD’s letter no. RBEB 19/73/Pt/3 dt. 22.06.73 at Sherfanguri, Kokrajhar under the charge of Asstt. Executive Engineer was shifted to the office of the Director, ARR&TI, Fatashil Ambari, Ghy-25 for all practical purposes including administration control, in the interest of public service with effect from 01.01.1999 vide Govt. notification no. RBEB. 310/98/2 Dated. 22.12.1998.

Quality Control & Monitoring Sub-Divisions: 6 nos. of Quality Control & Monitoring Sub Divisions I,II,III,IV,V,VI, viz. Bongaigaon, Kampur, Silchar, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Karimganj reorganized and transfer under the overall command of the office of the Director, ARR&TI, Fatashil Ambari, Ghy-25 vide Govt. notification no. RBEB. 140/2021/15 Dated. 02.04.2022.

Governance and Management:

Registration as Assam Road Research and Training Institute Society

Assam Road Research and Training Institute was registered as Society under the Public Works Department, Government of Assam in accordance with Registration of Societies Act XXI of 1860, on 3rd October, 2016.The rules of business of the ARR&TI Society have been framed.

The authorities of society are (a) Board of Management (BoM) and (b) Advisory Body (AB). Subject to the provisions of the rules of business, the management, supervision and control of society vest in the Board of Management. The BoM is chaired by the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam. Director ARR&TI is the Member Secretary and the senior most Secretaries Administrative Reforms and Training Department, Finance Department, Personnel Department, the Commissioner and Special Secretary PWRD, the Heads of Department of Civil Engineering IIT Guwahati and Assam Engineering College Guwahati are members of BoM. Two members can be co-opted by Chairperson.

BoM may delegate, from time to time, such powers and functions to the Executive Committee (EC) as are considered necessary. EC has also been constituted with Commissioner and Special Secretary PWRD as the chairperson. Commissioners and Secretaries of Finance Department and Personnel Department, Secretary PWRD, Chief Engineers PWD (Roads) and ARIASP & RIDF, Joint Directors ARR&TI, Deputy Directors of all sections of ARR&TI, Accounts officer ARR&TI are members. Director ARR&TI is the Member Secretary. EC can also nominate members. Chairperson may decide about invitees.

The EC can exercise all powers as may be delegated by BoM.

ARR&TI personnel:

Existing list of officers:

Office Non technical Staff:

Functions:

The primary function of the Assam Road Research and Training Institute (ARR&TI) is training and capacity building of the Engineers of the Public Works Department and the Contractors or their staff for improved & effective public service delivery.

PWRD (and stake holders of ARR&TI Society) may provide funds for conducting of training programmes and other capacity-building activities, including for research works to be undertaken by the ARR&TI Society in the field of innovative technologies/ use of locally available materials etc., so as to accelerate the process of road construction with highest standards & efficiency for sustainable development. Besides conducting training programmes designed by its own, ARR&TI also conducts training programmes designed and funded by the National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA) under Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India as per order and also training programmes sponsored by the World Bank/ Asian Development Bank etc.

The construction of roads/bridges/ buildings with superior qualities require use of materials with proper specifications as per the Codes and Manuals published by IS, IRC etc. Therefore, testing of materials used for this purpose is highly essential.

ARR&TI is responsible for testing of materials used for construction of all categories of roads such as Rural roads/Major District roads/State Highways/ National Highways and also for Buildings/ Bridge works. For the purpose of carrying out testing of materials, ARR&TI has five separate Laboratories with highly experienced and dedicated staff working for the assigned jobs since the establishment of erstwhile RRL. The Laboratories are:

RCTRC serves all stakeholders including all project implementing Divisions(PIUs), State Rural Road Development Agencies(SRRDAs), other Department of the State, Consultants and contractors involved in the creation and preservation of rural road assets apart from conducting research based activities. It also serves the neighboring states. RCTRC is functioning for these objectives- conduct training programs, undertake applied research and conduct tests experiments, training need for various levels of in-service officers of different agencies, conduct material testing relevant to Rural Road Development & Management.

SATC serves as a centre for imparting training to the Section Assistants of various Department viz. PWD(Roads & Building), PHE, Irrigation, Water Resource etc. Upon successful completion of the training course for 1 year duration , the trainees mostly from non-engineering background get an exposure to basic engineering concept on construction of roads, bridges, buildings, technical aspect of surveying, computer skills which pave a benchmark for their future upgradation in service, in respect of technical field.

SSQM/SQM for Chief Minister Road Development Schemes(CMRDS) viz. MMPPNA, MMUPPNA, MMPNA & MMMPA are engaged from this Directorate for third tier Quality Monitoring of the aforesaid schemes.

Quality Monitoring of Road under various schemes of APWD works along with works of other agencies are done as per need submitted from various Departments. One dedicated technical team is assigned for collecting sample of materials, field testing at site etc.