Before the birth of Indian Roads Congress there were no generally accepted bridge standard, specifications, codes of practice or road standards of any kind. There was no forum in India for discussion of road engineering problems. There was no organised method of co-relating experimental and testing work carried out in various States. No mechanism was therefore disseminating the results of road research nor any mean by which the Central and State Governments could obtain the collective opinion of road engineers in the country.The Indian Roads Congress has largely fulfilled these needs.

The following is aglimpse of its multi-faceted activities:

• Conceptulisation and formulation of the Road Development Plans in the country.So far 4 historic documents have been prepared which have laid the foundation for the growth and development of road and road transport in the country over the last 60 years.They are:
  1. Nagpur Plan (1941-61)
  2. Bombay Plan (1961-1981)
  3. Road Development Plan (1981-2001)
  4. Road Development Plan (2001-2021):Vision 2021
• Publication of Standards relating to roads, viz. survey, investigation, equipment, design, construction, environment, maintenance, geometrics, safety, road signage & technology.
• Publication of Standards, Specification and Codes of Practice on Bridges and also Guidelines for their inspection, maintenance, testing and rating.
• Publication of Standards Plans and specifications of Ministry of Surface Transport (now Ministry of Road Transport & Highways).
• Holding Annual Sessions, mid-term Council Meetings in order to discuss the road problems and to take policy decisions.
• Convening meeting of Chief Engineers and Engineers-in-Chiefs of the country dealing with roads and to discuss and resolve the problems of baffling the road sector and to monitor and review the progress of the urgent programmes; Co-ordination of road research across the length and breadth of the country and publishing research bulletins highway research bulletins and highway research records.
• Publication of technical Papers on various aspects of road and bridge development which are discussed at the Annual Sessions.
• Publication of state-of-the-Art-reports on important topics. These reports are treasures of information on the subject they deal with.
• Holding National and International Seminars and Workshops on topical subjects.
• Organising debate in the form of Panel Discussion on various aspects of Highway Engineering.
• Inter-acting with the Ministry of RT&H, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Science and Technology and other nodal ministries in the Govt. of India on policy issues.
• Liaison with other Institutions and professional bodies like Bureau of Indian Standards, Central Road Research Institute, National Highways Authority of india, National Institute for Training of Highway Engineers,Indian Geotechnical Society, International Road Federation(IRF),Permanent International Association of Road Congresses(PIARC) and International Labour Organisation(ILO).