The Institution of Permanent Way Engineers (India) is a technical body under the auspices of Ministry of Railways for sharing knowledge and experience of various Railway Engineers connected with Permanent Way (Railway Track), bridges and other structures and to keep the members abreast of the latest developments and instructions in the related fields.

The Institution was formed on May 18, 1967 with its Headquarters at Pune and was recognised by Ministry of Railways in the year 1972. It was shifted some time back to Railway Board's office to have better liaison with all concerned.

The main aim of the Institution is dissemination and sharing of technical knowledge relating to design, construction and maintenance of Permanent Way, bridges and other structures amongst the persons associated with it. To this end, the Institution promotes and arrange, seminars, discussions on technical papers, exhibition and organises lectures on technical subjects and publishes a periodic Technical Magazine to circulate technical information to facilitate interchange of ideas. About five years back a Diploma Course in Railway Engineering was started to enhance the technical knowledge and know-how of Railwaymen and also to train future Railwaymen in the field of Civil Engineering.

The Institution is administered by a Governing Council which works under the overall guidance of President, Member Engineering, Railway Board and Ex-Officio Secretary to Government of India is the President of this Institution. Additional Member Civil Engineering, Railway Board is the Ex-Officio Vice President of the institution and the Principal Chief Engineer of Northern Railway is Ex-Officio General Secretary.

There is also an Honorary Treasurer who is nominated by the President. The secretariat of the Institution is located in Rail Bhavan, New Delhi and is headed by the Executive Director/IPWE  .

The activities of Institution are spread over Indian Railways and there are 18 Centres with their jurisdiction over the respective Zonal Railways, RDSO and IRICEN. Principal Chief Engineers of the Zones are the Chairmen and Chief Administrative Officers are the Co-Chairmen of their Zonal Centres.

There are Divisional Centres at each of the Divisional Headquarters of the Zonal Railways for disseminating knowledge at the grass route level.

It is a correspondence Course comprising of 2 Semesters of Six months each.

No. It is for disseminating knowledge regarding working of Railways. However, it is an additional qualification for obtaining a job in Railways as well as Public Undertakings and private units associated with it and for promotions in the organisation.

It is open for admission to both Railway and non-Railway persons.

At the first instance admission will be given to first Semester only. Fee payable by Railwaymen is Rs.1500/- and for non-Railway person is Rs.1900/-.

After appearing in the examination of Semester I. Fee will be Rs.1900/- for Railwaymen and Rs.2400/- for non-Railway persons for Semester II.

No. Fees paid at the time of admission are inclusive of examination fee and study material.

Yes, Contact Classes are arranged at Delhi. These are not compulsory, but optional. You will have to pay Rs.1000/- extra if you opt for this.

You can send a consolidated Bank Draft for all types of fees or pay separately as convenient to you.

You can apply for Supplementary Examination by paying a fee of Rs. 1000/-.

You can apply for Supplementary Examinaton by paying a fee of Rs. 1000/-.

Yes, but if you could not pass all subjects in any of the Semesters then, you will have to clear the subjects in which you failed by taking admission to the Supplementary Examination conducted in combination with regular examination every year. Supplementary examination will be conducted along with regular examination and exclusive supplementary examinations can be conducted depending on the number of failures.

For this purpose you will have to buy a Prospectus in next academic session at the cost of Rs.100/- which is available at our office address by paying cash or sending a Bank Draft of equal amount and a self addressed envelop with stamps of Rs.15/- affixed on it. It can also be obtained from our Associate Office in Section Engineer (Works) Office complex at Baroda House, New Delhi.

Requisition of Prospectus from candidates with Bank Draft of Rs.100/- are immediately dispatched to them by enclosing the same in the self addressed envelop sent by them. For this purpose post office in your area may be contacted.

By express registered parcel.

Diploma in Railway Engineering is recognised by Ministry of Railways. Benefits are different for Railway and non-Railwaymen are :-

It will be an additional qualification for promotion to selection posts for Railway employees in Group 'C' category of Engineering and other Departments.

Examinations of Semester I & II are fixed normally in the months of February and December respectively each year.

The purpose of a Seminar is dissemination and sharing of Technical knowledge of Permanent Way (Railway Track), bridges and other structures amongst Railwaymen as well as suppliers and manufacturers of track components and other consulting firms associated with design, construction and maintenance of Permanent Way, bridges and other structures

IPWE is conducting one National Seminar every year.
All efforts are being made to conduct one Seminar in each Zonal Centre of IPWE every year.

The following Seminars have already been organised:

In addition the Institution is arranging regular lectures, group discussions so as to have better exchange of knowledge and experience about the latest technology concerning P.Way Engineering in Railway Board's office as well as Zonal Headquarters and Divisional offices.

IPWE Seminar scheduled to be held on 20th and 21 January 2011 at  Bangalore has been postponed. Revised dates will be advised shortly.
Next Seminar will be held at Gnana Jyothi Auditorium, Central College Campus, Bangalore University, Bangalore-560 001.

Date:

 and the subjects of the Seminar will be :

(i)  “Rail-Wheel Interaction in the context of heavy axle loading” 
and
(ii) “Mechanization in construction of track”   

The membership of the Institution comprises of three categories - Honorary, Corporate and Non-Corporate. The Honorary membership comprises Hony. Fellows. The Corporate Membership comprises Fellows, Members, Associate Members and the Non-Corporate Membership comprises Affiliate members, students and subscribers.

The Corporate Members are selected from Permanent way men subject to certain qualifications & experience as well as membership fees as prescribed in the Institution bye-laws. Once selected as Corporate Members, they are entitled to affix the following degree after their names:

In order to share the knowledge of Permanent Way Engineering, Bridges and other structures with the manufacturers and suppliers of the concrete sleepers and track components as well as with Zonal Railways, consulting firms, other technical bodies and technical Institutions etc., the IPWE has extended the membership to them also as Institutional Corporate Members and Associate Corporate Members.

The Institutional Corporate Members have to pay one time fees of Rs.50,000/- and the Associate Institutional Members Rs.30,000/-. These members are entitled to get free technical literature and one or more members (depending upon the type of membership) are invited to each Seminar and exhibition for exchange of sharing of ideas. The Institutional Corporate Members will also have an opportunity to present and publish papers in the seminars as well as in the technical magazine to be issued by IPWE.

A scheme has also been made to enroll foreign Permanent Way Engineers as Members either on individual basis or on Institutional basis. This will enable professional sharing of technical knowledge on an International scale.

These members will be sent technical literature and will be entitled to participate in technical seminars and exhibitions.

Following Publications are being done:

Technical Papers.

Technical Journal

Souvenir

Technical Diary