A battery-run vehicle. Telegraph picture

Patna, Nov. 27: The ambitious plan of the state tourism department to create a vehicle-free zone around the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodhgaya has hit a roadblock.

The department has been unable to find a single operator willing to introduce battery-run vehicles in the proposed restricted zone of 1-km-radius. The operators have given a cold shoulder to the plan claiming that introducing pollution-free cars would be feasible only after all other (LPG, diesel and petrol) vehicles are banned in the area.

“We had floated the tenders in June for running eco-friendly, battery-operated vehicles within 1-km-radius of the Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya. Unfortunately, we have not received any single bid against the tender. The operators claimed that running eco-friendly vehicles would be feasible only after the obstacles (roadside shops and kiosks) in the route are removed and all other vehicles banned in the area,” said state tourism minister Sunil Kumar “Pintu”.

He added that the operators were scared of the battery-operated vehicles being damaged if they were allowed to run along with regular vehicles. The cost of each battery-operated vehicle is around Rs 7 lakh.

“To create a conducive environment for these vehicles, we have removed many shops on the two approaching roads to the temple. We have also asked Gaya city superintendent of police to make arrangements for restricting traffic in the proposed no-vehicle zone. I believe that operators would come forward once such measures are fully complied with. Moreover, if we still find no applications then the department would procure and run the battery operated vehicles on its own. It will eventually become a vehicle-free zone,” said Kumar.

According to the plan, around 15 battery-operated vehicles were supposed to travel on the route initially. Each would have a capacity to transport 10 to 12 passengers.

Residents of the area claim that the plan to make a no-vehicle zone around Mahabodhi Mahavihara is noble. They, however, also have reservations about it.

“It is a welcome step to introduce eco-friendly vehicles around Mahavihara. However, the existing development in the area contradicts the proposed plan. For instance, the entire periphery, which is supposed to be made a vehicle-free zone, is densely populated,” said Kalicharan Singh Yadav, the former secretary of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee.