Negotiation as an Alternative Approach to Resolve Disputes out of Court: A Case Study of Negotiations in BRT, Project Peshawar

Abstract

In construction projects, disputes are common and the project heads and leaders need to resolve them for the timely resolution of conflicts. The formal process of litigation and court proceedings require effort, time, and money and often the relationships are also compromised. Alternatively, the significance of alternative dispute resolution in such projects is beneficial as it is cost effective, maintains confidentiality, preserves relationships, and saves time and resources. There are many out of court approaches to dispute resolution. Arbitration, mediation, and negotiations are the approaches that build mutual consensus and resolve the dispute by reaching a compromise. Of these alternative dispute resolution approaches, negotiation is the most favorable, as it saves time and resources. The findings from this study reveal that in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, Peshawar, efforts were made to reach agreeable solutions out of court and many stakeholders were compensated with negotiation and mutual consensus. It saved resources, costs, time, and relations among the stakeholders.

Keywords: Negotiation, Alternative Dispute Resolutions, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, Peshawar