Assessing the causes of claims in highway construction projects with a case study: a construction practitioner’s perspective

Highway projects in India grapple with unavoidable claims, primarily revolving around strict time and budget constraints. The repercussions of claims are significant and often result in considerable time and cost extensions. Highway projects are expanding, and the increase in claims complexity potentially casts a shadow over the highway projects. In an earnest endeavour to mitigate and pre-empt claims, this study presents the outcomes of an extensive quantitative study conducted among highway project practitioners. The study findings identify highway construction claims in various claim events and underlying causes and assess their frequency and severity. To employ a structured approach, the study uses the fishbone model to dissect the factors influencing claims severity and frequency, categorising them into four groups to pinpoint critical areas of concern. The findings of this study bring to light the most pressing causes of claims severity and frequency. Moreover, including a practical case study offers a tangible real-world perspective within the context of a highway project, validating a similar scenario as a quantitative study. These insights aim to help highway project practitioners prevent conflicts, reduce costs, and improve relationships among parties, fostering a more efficient construction environment.