Conceived in late '80s, the BDB is a multi-crore project for diamond traders. Controversies, delays, infighting have all prevented the bourse to come up at a huge plot on the thriving Bandra-Kurla complex. The BDB project was originally scheduled for completion by 1996 end at a cost of about Rs 600 crore.

In its initial report given to the BDB, the ECC group has said that most of the offices in the huge diamond bourse have "poor lighting and irregular shapes with columns erected in between, resulting in the wastage of space".

ECC has also cautioned that the transformers and other electrical equipment have been exposed to dust and moisture since quite some time.

ECC was appointed as BDB's PRC in April 1998. Construction work at the site has been at a stand still formore than a year because of problems among members in the wake of staggering time and cost over-runs. The PRC is expected to study documents, contracts and reports. They also have to review the existing designs and quantify the balance of work to be executed besides preparing cost estimates for completion of the remaining work.

In its interim report, the PRC has said there were several defects in the unfinished building complex. ECC has suggested that there should be no toilets in the offices if the office area is less than 550 sq.ft. And only those offices with areas of 225-550 sq.ft. should have pantry. Pocket terraces on the seventh, eighth and ninth floors could be merged in the respective office areas, wherever feasible. Part of the first floor should be converted into service area, ECC said. The BDB has asked the PRC to regroup the office space/or even replace the layout for better utilisation of available space.

ECC has made proposals with regard to the zoning, pocket terraces, layout of pies,window size, demolition of smaller offices on the ground floor and the use of that space as public utility area. Offices having super built-up area upto 100 sq.ft. are proposed to be merged with those with 150 sq.ft area.

Among other recommendations, ECC has strongly recommended construction of seventh, eighth and ninth floors on various towers.

Such additional floors, it is argued, will add about 1.20 lakh sq.ft. to the BDB's high premium area and will help construction of bigger and better offices with adequate natural light.