Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in India’s diamond industry. The Bourse, touted as the world’s largest office building, has garnered much attention for its sheer size and potential to revolutionize diamond trade.

Here are 10 noteworthy facts about the Surat Diamond Bourse:

Surpassing the Pentagon: For nearly 80 years, the Pentagon held the title of the world’s largest office building. But with a carpet area of 67,28,604 square feet, the SDB dethrones the Pentagon by almost 55,000 square feet.

Diamond Hub: The SDB aspires to become the world’s premier center for international diamond and jewelry trade. It will cater to both rough and polished diamonds, along with exquisite jewelry.

Cutting-Edge Facilities: The Bourse boasts state-of-the-art amenities, including a dedicated Customs Clearance House for import-export, a retail jewelry mall, and secure International Banking and Safe Vaults.

Effortless Navigation: Despite its vastness, traversing the 15-story towers is surprisingly swift. A network of 131 elevators managed by a sophisticated control system enables reaching any top-floor corner within six minutes.

Interconnected Towers: The nine 81-meter towers are strategically linked by an atrium spine, facilitating seamless movement between floors and buildings without needing to reach ground level. This design ensures efficient circulation across the expansive complex.

Parking Galore: Spread across 35.54 acres, the SDB campus houses a two-story underground parking lot equipped to accommodate 4,500 cars and 10,000 two-wheelers. This caters to the needs of its large workforce of 65,000 employees working across approximately 4,500 offices.

Office Variety: The tower configuration caters to diverse office requirements. Five towers offer 2,700 offices of 300 square feet each, while one tower houses 900 offices of 500 square feet. Additionally, another tower features 400 offices of 1,000 square feet, and two towers boast 350 larger offices exceeding 1,000 square feet per unit.

Diamond Trading Hub: Located near Surat city, the SDB is home to nearly 4,500 dedicated diamond trading offices, poised to transform the city into a global diamond trading center.

Part of DREAM City: The SDB is an integral part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City project. The project’s groundbreaking ceremony was held in February 2015 by former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

Diamond Traders Migrate: Many diamond traders previously operating from Mumbai have already secured offices at the SDB, with spaces allocated through an auction process.

The inauguration of the Surat Diamond Bourse marks a significant moment for India’s diamond industry. Its sheer size, advanced facilities, and strategic location have the potential to propel Surat to the forefront of global diamond trade.