Recently, the Surat Diamond Bourse, which is set to house 45000 diamond companies, recieved permission from the Customs Department to set up a 25,000 square feet customs house, which will be three times bigger than the one in Bharat Diamond Bouse (BDB), Mumbai.
The diamond industry in India, however modern and cutting-edge is deeply rooted in tradition and value system. So, it is not a surprise that the Bourse in Surat, which will be one of the largest commercial buildings in India, will not have a 13th Floor. Companies did not want an office space on the 13th Floor, hence, the space will be used for common facilities. The number 13 is largely considered inauspicious in cultures across the world.
The bourse will have a total of 9 buildings, which will be named after an alphabet, just like in Bharat Diamond Bourse. However, the letter I will be omitted in order to not get confused with J.
A project that has been in the works for a long time, it is set to finish in 2022. While the larger question of whether India needs two diamond bourses is still being whispered amidst diamantaires and trade people, many offices have completely moved to Surat during the pandemic. A total of Rs 24,000 has gone into building this state-of-the-art bourse, that promises to be relatively cheaper (than BDB) and provide better quality of life to workers.