Surat: Notices, pictures of deities and even freshly painted walls have failed to curb one stubborn habit in the Diamond City — spitting betel juice. Walls continue to turn red, flyover parapets have quietly switched from blue and black to brown to camouflage the stains, and civic patience has worn thin.On this, the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB), the world’s largest office complex, even bigger than the Pentagon — has drawn a firm line: No mava (a mix of betelnut, catechu and tobacco) inside. Penalties await those found carrying it or spitting its juice. Besides, repeat offenders staining its walls will find their mugshots put up for all to see. Authorities behind this crackdown may not have determined the fine amount yet, but remain determined to keep the building gleaming. The management has even floated the idea of installing cameras in washrooms.Bourse president Arvind Shah underlined the zero-tolerance policy. “Those coming to SDB have been asked not to enter the building chewing mava, not to carry it or leave stains in toilets or wash basins either,” he said.The warning comes at a crucial time for the SDB management committee, which is making sustained efforts to encourage manufacturers, traders and brokers to start operating from the complex. For the past few months, deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi has held meetings with diamond traders from Mahidharpura and other areas, urging them to start work from SDB.The Surat Diamond Brokers Association (SDBA), which has about 4,000 members, said 1,800 brokers have already registered for regular visits to the bourse. The association has promised full cooperation, including on the penalties.“The SDB management has provided us all support needed. Now, it is our responsibility to ensure that such a wonderful building remains in best condition. We are informing brokers to strictly follow the restrictions on mava or face penalty and punishment,” said SDBA president Nandlal Nakrani.Vice-chairman Lalji Patel added. “Everyone, including brokers, have been strictly told not to bring, chew or spit mava in the building.”Patel says he practises what he preaches. At his diamond manufacturing company, Dharmanandan Diamond, employees caught chewing mava on the premises are fined.SDB was formally inaugurated on Dec 17, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a major step in the city’s ambition to become a global diamond trading hub. The management now faces the challenge of making all 4,200 offices functional.Built at an estimated cost of Rs 3,200 crore, the bourse boasts a carpet area of 6,728,604 sq ft — about 55,000 sq ft larger than the Pentagon. The 15-storeyed, 81-metre-high complex consists of nine towers spread across a 35.54-acre campus, with a built-up area of 6,817,050 sq ft.
