India’s first ever Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) portal has been inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu. ODR has been considered as the most viable option to resolve cross-border trade disputes for quite some time now. Speaking at the successful inauguration, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu lauded the initiative as it will fast-track dispute resolution and will help the country attract more foreign investment. This conference was organized by the Construction Industry Arbitration Council (CIAC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

The establishment of ODR comes as a breath of fresh air and boosts the Government’s long standing vision of a ‘Digital India.’ According to the Vice President, the rapid development of the Internet and E-Commerce is “a logical and natural step” as it expedites the resolution timeline of disputes. He continued saying that if a nation like India has a sound legal framework, then it can become an obvious choice for investors. The establishment of ODR extends to multiple sectors too. The flagships programs like developing Smart Cities in India would require a futuristic approach for smart and time-effective dispute resolution mechanism, which the [b]ODR[/b] should essentially cater to. Not only does ODR yield time-saving resolutions, its benefits extend to sharp reduction of costs and non-confrontational mechanism as well.

One of the reasons why ODR has been introduced is due to its crucial cost saving characteristic. When compared to the arising costs of filing a suit in a court, the monetary expenditure incurred on solving online disputes is a “mere trifle.” Cost is one of the important factors in dispute resolution as both sides usually look to reach a decision at the lowest price possible. The costs usually arise in other forms of dispute resolution due to arising factors such as travel and venue reservation which are eliminated in an online setting.

Another key advantage of adopting an ODR system is its non-confrontational nature. Many times, the distance between the two parties is important and beneficial, especially when the parties in question are not comfortable confronting each other or the trust factor between them is missing. As most of the communication is online, through e-mails and other modes, the parties get the necessary time to think, reflect on their stance and decide on the next step carefully. The pressure of time is negligible which ensures that both the sides understand the situation and the latest developments.

The newly inaugurated ODR portal will offer Arbitration, Mediation, and Conciliation, or a combination of three, in the construction sector, including highways. Many construction projects in the country are often interrupted through delays and cost over-runs. [b]Akhilesh Srivastava[/b], Chief General Manager (IT & Operations), NHAI, is part of a central committee which is in-charge for the successful implementation and establishment of this project. Also known as the ETC man of India, for implementing an electronic system of tolling on the National Highways (NHs) in India, Mr Akhilesh Srivastava is focused on ensuring that India’s maiden ODR system serves as a long term solution to many dispute hurdles faced by the businesses in the country and abroad.