The Roorkee Local Centre of the Institution of Engineers (India) was initially established as a Sub-Centre in 1961 with a total membership of only 178. Padma Vibhushan Dr. Ghananand Pande, the eminent engineer and the then Vice-Chancellor of the Roorkee University was its founder Chairman. Since then the Roorkee Centre has grown steadily in its membership and technical activities. With the revision of Bye laws, the Roorkee Sub-Centre became a Local Centre on February 21, 1977 when its corporate membership crossed 442 mark. As on 30.3.2024, the Roorkee Centre has a total membership of 942 Corporate members and about 2278 student members. The Centre covers Haridwar district.
The Centre acquired a building of its own on the Roorkee University Campus in 1969, with a plinth area of 250 sq m constructed on a piece of land measuring 600 sq m leased by the University of Roorkee. The Roorkee Local Centre was moved to its present location on December 12, 1969. With the manifold increase in the activities of the Centre, a need for larger space was felt to enable the Centre to play an even more effective role in helping the development of engineering industries, works and organisation in the region. First floor was added to its existing building, with an auditorium and a Lecture room. On completion of the extension work, the new floor was inaugurated on December 5, 1986. During the year 1997, the varandha of the building on the backside on ground floor has been covered to make it usable for library purpose. Auditorium and ground floor reading room are provided with Air Conditioners. Toilets have been renovated. Committee room has been added in the Centre. Audio Visual facilities at the Centre have been augmented with LCD Projector. Library has been extended to house more books. In the year 2008, Prof. S.C.Saxena, Director, IIT Roorkee (under the Chairmanship of Dr.Satyendra Mittal), inaugurated renovated library hall and auditorium.
The Centre has an excellent track record of over past 62 years of its technical activities and engineering leadership. There are 1606 books + 1 CD in the Library of the Centre which are extensively used by the members and students. The Centre guides and assists in active functioning of Technicians Chapter and Roorkee University Student Chapters of the Institution of Engineers (India) at Roorkee.
The Roorkee Local Centre is extremely proud to produce four national Presidents so far. These persons are Late Prof. Jai Krishna, Late Prof. Shankar Lal, Prof. Satish Chandra and Dr. H.C.Visvesvaraya. Roorkee Local Centre with Prof. Kamal Jain as its Chairman and Er. M.M. Dalbehera as Honorary Secretary is making progress steadily in all fronts. The Centre has proved to be a pillar of strength of the Institution and it is expected that it will rise from strength to strength in the coming years.