Under Section 29B(1) — the **fast track procedure** — the parties to an arbitration agreement may, at any stage either before or at the time of appointment of the arbitral tribunal, agree in writing to have their dispute resolved by fast track procedure. Under this procedure, the award is to be made within:

1. Section 29B(4) of the Act prescribes the fast-track time limit. 2. "The award under this section shall be made within a period of **six months** from the date the arbitral tribunal enters upon the reference." 3. The tribunal under fast track decides the dispute on the basis of written pleadings, documents and submissions, without oral hearing (subject to limited exceptions in Section 29B(3)). 4. The parties typically agree on a **sole arbitrator** under Section 29B(2). _Source: ICSI CS Executive Paper 1 — Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws, Lesson 13 (Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996), pp. 314-333._