Foundation stone is likely to be laid on February 8, 2015 for the proposed Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB), at the hands Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat.

The proposed 100-acre project is expected to come up at an investment of Rs 1.25 lakh crore. The bourse will see offices and trading zones in an area of 15 million sq ft. Tenders for the construction work will be issued soon.

“The SDB will be run by a 31-member committee comprising leading diamond polishing and trading players. The company will be headed by Vallabhbhai Lakhani of Kiran Exports. Other leading diamantaires who are part of the committee include Govindbhai Dholakia from Shree Ramkrishna Exports, Laljibhai Patel of Dharmanandan Diamonds and Sevantibhai Shah of Venus Jewel,” said Mathurbhai Savani, Saurashtra Jaldhara Trust.

He further added, “We are aiming to make SDB a world-class facility. All kinds of infrastructure will be provided to the diamantaires. Around 10,000 offices will be there and the project will take three years to complete.”

The project is part of the 2,000-acre Surat Dream City, being set up on the lines of the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). Around 12,000 diamond merchants have reportedly signed up for the project.