JSW Infrastructure, India’s second-largest private port operator led by Sajjan Jindal, has formally made an exit from its proposed greenfield jetty project at Nandgaon in Thane district of Maharashtra by surrendering both its environmental and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance, as well as the waterfront allotted for the project.

This decision marks a strategic pivot for the company, which now intends to develop a new port at Murbe, with an estimated investment of Rs 4,259 crore. Originally granted environmental and CRZ clearance in February 2016, the Nandgaon project was intended to establish a 16.7 million tonne per annum capacity facility to handle both captive cargo for the JSW Group and a range of commercial cargo including coal, iron ore, limestone, bauxite, POL, LPG, LNG, chemicals, containers, and project cargo.

Despite holding all the required permissions, JSW Infrastructure confirmed that no construction activity had been undertaken at the site since the clearances were granted. In light of delays and the unresolved legal and regulatory hurdles, the company surrendered the waterfront area to the Maharashtra Maritime Board last year. It has now followed up by relinquishing the associated environmental clearance as well.