Gujarat's Surat is making global headlines - not only because 90% of all the world’s diamonds are cut here but also now, the newly-built Surat Diamond Bourse has surpassed US' Pentagon to become the world's largest office building.
According to CNN reports, the newly-opened Surat Diamond Bourse is billed as a “one-stop destination” for over 65,000 diamond professionals, including cutters, polishers and traders.
The report further said the building comprises over 7.1 million square feet of floor space. The Pentagon comprises over 6.5 million square feet of floor space.
The cost of the building is ₹3,200 crores ($388 million).
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It houses 131 elevators and has dining, retail, wellness and conference facilities for its employees, the CNN report said.
The project is set to welcome its first occupants in November after four years of construction work, two of which were hampered by Covid-related delays. It is expected to be officially opened later this year by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to the project’s CEO, Mahesh Gadhavi, Surat Diamond Bourse will save thousands of people from traveling — sometimes daily — to Mumbai by train to do business.