Gallagher Security: Protecting the Surat Diamond Bourse

When the world’s largest commercial office building set out to define its security and access strategy, it wasn’t simply looking for a system to lock doors and monitor entry – it was seeking a solution that could match its monumental scale and visionary purpose, reports Gallagher Security.

The Surat Diamond Bourse, a glittering epicentre for India’s diamond trade, required more than conventional protection; it needed a platform that could orchestrate seamless movement, intelligent automation and operational efficiency across a sprawling 6.7 million square feet of floor space.

In a building designed to host over 67,000 professionals and house everything from customs offices to international banking and gem laboratories, security had to be reimagined – not as a reactive measure, but as a proactive enabler of efficiency, experience and enterprise.

This was not just about safeguarding assets; it was about unlocking the full potential of a landmark built to shape the future of global trade.

In December 2023, the Surat Diamond Bourse opened its doors as India’s second diamond trading hub. Described as a ‘one-stop’ destination for diamond professionals, the 15-story site spreads across more than 35 acres and is the world’s largest single complex.

Boasting an impressive nine towers and containing an independent customs office, international banking facilities and diamond-testing laboratories, the Surat Diamond Bourse is a feat of design at mass scale.

The iconic landmark sits in the heart of Surat and offers unobstructed views from every one of its 4,700 offices, and the official opening was officiated by India’s Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi.

Innovative security to meet the needs of a state-of the-art building

The objectives for the build of the Surat Diamond Bourse were multifaceted, from the promotion of imports, exports and trading of diamonds and gems from across India, to providing state-of-the-art infrastructure to the organisations engaged in diamond manufacturing and trading, the building’s purpose was multi-disciplinary and demanded scalability.

The Surat Diamond Bourse chose Gallagher Security’s award-winning site management platform, Command Centre, to secure the complex and provide a seamless, integrated security experience to prioritise security, safety and convenience for staff and visitors.

Trusted to protect some of the world’s most critical infrastructure, Command Centre integrates with a wide variety of systems and hardware, creating a single operating platform which manages the complexities of total site security.

Gallagher Security General Manager – India, Deneshkumar V explained: “Surat Diamond Bourse, faced several security issues, primarily stemming from the large scale and complexity of the facility.

“Among other requirements, they wanted to implement a high-tech, cardless access control solution integrated with biometric systems to ensure secure, efficient and seamless movement of people within the vast premises of the site.”

A scalable solution made for today’s volume and tomorrow’s growth

With multiple gates spread across the complex’s 35 acres, managing the movement of people and vehicles efficiently and securely was a challenge for the Surat Diamond Bourse.

It wanted to avoid traditional access methods including physical gate cards or manual entry systems that could be slow, prone to human error or easily bypassed.

It was crucial that the solution was scalable to accommodate large volumes of foot and vehicle traffic without causing delays or bottlenecks whilst maintaining robust security.

Command Centre provides multi-layer security. For visitors, access control was integrated with biometric verification including fingerprint and facial recognition or RFID badges.

For vehicles, the system uses licence plate recognition to identify authorised vehicles at the gates. The integrated systems prevent unauthorised entry into the building and parking areas and streamline management of parking slots.

“As a large, growing facility, SDB required a solution that could scale with their needs and easily adapt to changes in visitor traffic or security protocols without requiring manual intervention or increasing the time security staff spent managing visitor checks ins, vehicle access and parking.

The result was an automated system that reduced manual processes by automatically granting vehicle access without delays and handling parking management dynamically based on real-time availability, freeing up security personnel to focus on critical tasks and contributing towards greater operational efficiency,” said Denesh.

The flexibility of Gallagher’s solution ensures the system will grow with SDB, without requiring a complete overhaul of the system. Its future-proof design ensures scalability, flexibility and ease of use and boosts operational efficiency.

Balancing robust security and seamless user experiences at the Surat Diamond Bourse

Denesh says another priority for the Surat Diamond Bourse was ensuring the solution provided ease of use and that the system complemented the state-of-the-art, architecturally designed building by providing a frictionless experience for staff and visitors without compromising security.

An intuitive self-service kiosk and mobile app means visitors can pre-register, receive their access credentials (including parking passes or RFID badges) and gain access to both the building and parking areas without requiring manual intervention.

“This greatly enhances the user experience, making the process faster and more convenient for both visitors and security staff,” added Denesh.

Real-time alerts, monitoring and reporting

Due to the nature of the operations at the Surat Diamond Bourse and the scale of the site, it needed a security solution that could quickly detect and respond to security breaches, unauthorised access attempts and parking violations.

It also needed to be confident that the system could handle vast amounts of data without delays or failures.

Via Command Centre, Surat Diamond Bourse receives instant notifications and automated alerts in the event of unauthorised security attempts or breaches. Security personnel are instantly notified, ensuring a proactive response and minimising security issues before they escalate.

Through Rest API functionality, Surat Diamond Bourse can track visitor and vehicle movements in real-time, providing comprehensive oversight of the entire complex and ensuring smooth traffic management and security.

Data security and privacy protection

“The integration of biometric data, vehicle recognition and visitor information raised concerns around data security and compliance with privacy regulations, but with Command Centre’s high-level encryption and data security protocols, SDB were assured all sensitive information, including biometric data and vehicle details were protected,” commented Denesh.

Providing peace of mind to the organisation and its users, Gallagher’s solution also complied with privacy laws and regional regulations.

“Given the sensitive nature of the location (the world’s largest diamond bourse), ensuring data privacy and protecting the system from cyber-threats was critical. This involved addressing concerns around data security in biometric systems and preventing unauthorised access to the backend system,” continued Denesh.

He added: “We are proud to have been able to provide SDB with a sophisticated, customisable and scalable security solution that seamlessly integrates visitor management, car parking management and access control technologies to ensure the uninterrupted security of their site and contribute towards improved operational efficiencies.

“Gallagher’s Command Centre has unlocked streamlined operations, enhanced security and an enhanced visitor experience, ultimately contributing to the success of SDB’s complex security and operational needs,” concluded Denesh.

Redefining what security can achieve

In choosing a security solution that transcends traditional boundaries of safety and protection, the Surat Diamond Bourse has unlocked a future of limitless operational potential.

Gallagher’s Command Centre doesn’t just secure – it empowers.

It redefines what security can achieve when seamlessly integrated into the fabric of a building’s infrastructure, enabling smarter workflows, frictionless experiences and scalable innovation.

As the world’s largest commercial office building, the Surat Diamond Bourse stands as a bold testament to the power of reimagining security not as a barrier, but as a catalyst for progress.

It’s time to think bigger, broader and beyond the door – because when security is visionary, the possibilities are infinite.

Find out more about the value being unlocked by Gallagher Security solutions here.