Surat: The world’s largest diamond trading and polishing hub will be set up in Gujarat's Surat in the coming six months. At the Surat diamond bourse, rough diamonds will be auctioned and polished diamond will be exported. The largest diamond bourse is being made with treated water and hence it will be known as a green project.
Over 4,000 global traders are associated with the project which is ready to be launched soon under the international green building standards.
People associated with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector will get huge benefits through the project as they will be connected directly with buyers from across the world.
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There are 9 towers with 20 floors each comprising around 4500 offices, which are four times bigger than Mumbai’s Bharat diamond bourse, where traders from 175 countries will be transacting business. All offices are accessible from the main gate within just five minutes. There are a total of 128 lifts in all the towers.
The bourse, built on the theme of ‘Panchatatva’ will have environment-friendly elements including solar panels and a water treatment plant.
The project cost is approximately Rs 2,500 crore while the investment is made of Rs 1.25 lakh crore. Nearly, 46,000 tonnes of steel is used for the construction of the project.
In an estimate, Surat will get an average turnover of Rs 2 lakh crore.
The complex is equipped with a dynamic fire extinguishing facility with two hours of fire rating. The 400-kilovolt solar rooftop has been placed on the buildings while 1.8 megaliters per day water treatment plant has been established to make major savings on electricity and water.
Gujarat government had allotted 36 acres of land to the Surat diamond bourse committee.
In an exclusive interaction with ETV Bharat, Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council’s west zone Chairman Dinesh Navadia said that those associated with the diamond industries were facing problem as Surat was the manufacturing unit while Mumbai was the trading hub. So, traders had to keep offices in both the cities which was an expensive proposition.
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"During the coronavirus pandemic, traders of Mumbai suffered a lot of difficulties. The traders found that they could get the facilities of education, medical care and transport at economical rates in Surat. Local people will also get employment once Surat becomes a trading hub. Most important, everyone will be able to file their income tax returns in Surat which will directly benefit the Gujarat government. The project involves an investment of Rs 2,500 crore. It was started with a joint contribution from traders from India and abroad. The government did not make any financial contributions to the project. The diamond bourse is being set up following all the norms of green buildings," Navadia said.
Diamon bourse core committee member Mathur Savani told ETV Bharat that all 4,500 traders are making this project.
"Buyers from 175 countries will come to Surat to buy polished diamonds. Rough diamonds too will be auctioned from Surat. The project will be completed in the next six months. As many as 90 of the total 100 diamonds are cut and polished in Surat. Surat will be doing business worth over Rs 2 lakh crore in the coming days. The water supply for the project is managed by the municipal corporation which is treating wastewater and recycling it," Savani stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the project and efforts are being made to launch the project by Diwali.
The project got delayed due to the Covid pandemic.
Read:| COVID-hit Mumbai diamond traders shifting base to Surat
