NHAI Wins Chittorgarh-Udaipur NH-76 Arbitration Case
A SAROD arbitral tribunal rejected claims of Rs 366.53 crore against NHAI in the Chittorgarh-Udaipur NH-76 dispute and awarded the authority Rs 33.54 crore.
Why in News
On 16 October 2026 the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said a SAROD arbitral tribunal had largely upheld NHAI's position in the Chittorgarh-Udaipur NH-76 six-laning dispute, rejecting claims of Rs 366.53 crore and awarding the authority Rs 33.54 crore.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has won an arbitration case arising from the six-laning of the 93.5 km Chittorgarh-Udaipur stretch of NH-76 in Rajasthan. The dispute was with the concessionaire Uchit Expressway Private Limited, a company promoted by TRIL Roads Pvt. Ltd. The tribunal upheld the authority's reading of the concession agreement almost in full, protecting public money and reaffirming the contract framework that governs national highway projects.
What the tribunal decided
A three-member arbitral tribunal constituted under the Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes (SAROD) examined the claims and the counter-claims. It threw out claims worth Rs 366.53 crore raised by the concessionaire. Of that amount, Rs 238.18 crore was a prolongation cost claim pinned on the COVID-19 period, and the tribunal refused it outright. Only Rs 14.51 crore of the claims was allowed, together with a conditional refund of Rs 2.82 crore to the concessionaire.
Counter-claims allowed to NHAI
On the other side of the ledger, the tribunal awarded the authority Rs 33.54 crore as principal on its counter-claims.
| Head of counter-claim | Amount |
| Recovery for work dropped from the project scope | Rs 27 crore |
| Failure to maintain the highway | Rs 4.03 crore |
| Unauthorised toll collected after the completion date of March 2021 | Rs 2.51 crore |
| Total principal awarded | Rs 33.54 crore |
A run of arbitration wins
The authority has defended several arbitration matters recently. In July 2026 it saw off claims of about Rs 3,177 crore in proceedings involving Bareilly Highways Project Limited (BHPL). In June 2026 the case on the Tumkur-Chitradurga six-laning project in Karnataka went its way for Rs 1,202 crore. In April 2026 two cases on the Panipat-Jalandhar highway, carrying concessionaire claims of roughly Rs 8,375 crore against NHAI counter-claims of Rs 2,888.64 crore, were settled at Rs 819.96 crore in the authority's favour. In May 2026 a contractor's claims of about Rs 174.49 crore on the Kamrej-Chalthan section of NH-48 in Gujarat were settled for only Rs 54 lakh.
Why it matters
NHAI said the outcomes reflect sound contract management and a well-planned legal strategy, and that they reinforce transparency, accountability and contractual discipline in building and running the national highway network.
Important Facts
| Authority | National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) |
|---|---|
| Project | Six-laning of the Chittorgarh-Udaipur section of NH-76, Rajasthan |
| Length | 93.5 km |
| Concessionaire | Uchit Expressway Private Limited, promoted by TRIL Roads Pvt. Ltd. |
| Arbitration body | Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes (SAROD), three-member tribunal |
| Claims rejected | Rs 366.53 crore |
| COVID-19 prolongation claim refused | Rs 238.18 crore |
| Claims allowed | Rs 14.51 crore, plus a conditional refund of Rs 2.82 crore |
| Counter-claims awarded to NHAI | Rs 33.54 crore principal |
| Break-up of counter-claims | Rs 27 crore dropped work, Rs 4.03 crore maintenance failure, Rs 2.51 crore unauthorised toll |
| Project completion date | March 2021 |
Exam Point of View
Remember the highway (NH-76), the section and its length (Chittorgarh-Udaipur, 93.5 km), the state (Rajasthan), the concessionaire (Uchit Expressway Private Limited, promoted by TRIL Roads), the arbitration body (SAROD, a three-member tribunal), the claims rejected (Rs 366.53 crore, of which Rs 238.18 crore was a COVID-19 prolongation claim), the amount allowed (Rs 14.51 crore) and the counter-claim award to NHAI (Rs 33.54 crore).
Practice Questions
The arbitration case that NHAI defended in the Chittorgarh-Udaipur stretch concerned which national highway?
- A.NH-44
- B.NH-48
- C.NH-76
- D.NH-27
Show answer
The dispute arose from the six-laning of the Chittorgarh-Udaipur section of this highway in Rajasthan, a stretch of 93.5 km.
Read the full explanation →Under which body was the three-member arbitral tribunal in the Chittorgarh-Udaipur case constituted?
- A.Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes (SAROD)
- B.Indian Council of Arbitration
- C.International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution
- D.National Company Law Tribunal
Show answer
The tribunal that examined the claims and counter-claims flowing from the concession agreement for the Chittorgarh-Udaipur six-laning project was constituted under SAROD and had three members.
Read the full explanation →What is the length of the Chittorgarh-Udaipur section taken up for six-laning?
- A.73.5 km
- B.83.5 km
- C.93.5 km
- D.103.5 km
Show answer
This is the length of the Chittorgarh-Udaipur stretch of NH-76 in Rajasthan that was to be widened to six lanes under the concession agreement with Uchit Expressway Private Limited.
Read the full explanation →How much was awarded to NHAI as principal in counter-claims by the tribunal?
- A.Rs 14.51 crore
- B.Rs 33.54 crore
- C.Rs 238.18 crore
- D.Rs 366.53 crore
Show answer
The tribunal allowed the counter-claims of the National Highways Authority of India to this extent as principal.
Read the full explanation →Frequently Asked Questions
Which highway section was the NHAI arbitration case about?
The 93.5 km Chittorgarh-Udaipur section of NH-76 in Rajasthan, taken up for six-laning. The concessionaire was Uchit Expressway Private Limited, promoted by TRIL Roads Pvt. Ltd.
What is SAROD?
The Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes. The three-member arbitral tribunal that heard the claims and counter-claims in the Chittorgarh-Udaipur case was constituted under it.
How much did the tribunal award NHAI?
Rs 33.54 crore as principal on its counter-claims. This covered Rs 27 crore for work dropped from the project scope, Rs 4.03 crore for failure to maintain the highway and Rs 2.51 crore for toll collected without authority after the completion date of March 2021.
Sources
- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2324416 (opens in a new tab) — Press Information Bureau
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