The short-term consulting assignment is intended to provide Assam PWRD, the required assistance to develop and implement a roadmap for transforming the Assam Road Research Institute (ARRTI) into a formal training and research institute primarily, but not limited to, catering to the North-Eastern Region of India. STC was entrusted with this short-term consultancy assignment by the World Bank for a total period of 32 days starting 6 February and ending 30 July 2017. The study has been initiated on February 6, 2017.
History of ARRTI
The Road Research Laboratory (RRL) was established and the post of Director RRL (in the rank of Superintending Engineer) was created on 4 November 1977 vide Government of Assam, Public Work Department order number RBEB 136/773. The RRL was renamed as the Assam Road Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) vide order, by Governor of Assam, memo number RBEB.82/2013/31-A Dated 7 June 2013.The post of Director was upgraded to that of Additional Chief Engineer on 31 December 2004, vide PWD order number CON 66/2004/1.ARRTI was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Assam on 18 July 2013.On 3 March 2016, GoA notification for setting up the society to affect greater functional autonomy was issued.
Stakeholders’ Input
The input, for this report, was obtained from:
- Discussions with the management and personnel (total of twenty) of PWRD, Past Directors of ARRTI, Director and other personnel of ARRTI, Pre-Registration Training Centre (PRTC) officers and consultant for computerization and the contractor for interiors of new building of ARRTI. List provided at Annexure- 1.
- Feedback received on the list of documents/ information sought from PD and AEE, ARIASP
- Report on Training Need Assessment for Assam PWRD personnel, conducted in 2013-14 during ADB assisted TA-7838 IND: MFF-North Eastern State Roads Investment Program (Facility Concept)-Institutional Development and Capacity Building Consultant (37143-013);
- State specific report on establishment of Rural Connectivity Training and Research Centre (RCTRC) - Assam March 2014, under the ADB assisted Institutional development for rural roads asset management – support for establishment of Rural Road Network Management units and Rural Connectivity Training and Research Centers (TA 8110-IND)
High Lights and Structure of this Report
Report is divided into two parts:
- As-Is a comprehensive Study of the “as is” organization, resources and operations of the ARRTI to determine its effectiveness and ongoing viability for current GoA and industry needs and expectations in the field of works (materials) Quality Research, Testing and Training of personnel at the present level of funding and with existing equipment and resources.
- Draft Development Strategy that over a 0-6 years’ timeframe, would enable the ARRTI to shift to a more sustainable and higher-performance ‘business model’, identifying the changes required in the funding / required facilities, equipment/ manpower and systems to endow ARRTI with modernized, cost-effective technology and service capabilities.
The issues identified in the AS-IS report have been addressed through recommendations in the Development Strategy appearing in the same sequence for consistency.
Effort has been made to provide precedents from other state PWDs, National and State level policy documents, reports and other documentation to justify the recommendations in this report.
The complete coverage of SOW of this STC has been ensured through the matrix presented at Annexure-2 showing the para numbers addressing all the requirements, based on SOW, reported in the inception report.
The contents of this report have been summarized at the end of report, in the Matrix containing:
- The issues identified in the As-Is report
- Current status of these issues also references of these as para numbers in AS-Is report
- Recommendations to address these issues, also relevant para numbers in Development Strategy
- Reference to precedence, policy documents, reports to justify these recommendations
- Phasing of Recommendations: Short Term (0-2 years), Medium Term (2-5 years), Long Term (> 5 years)
- Financial implications of the recommendations made in this report
- Result Framework for evaluation and monitoring of implementation
