Chief secretary Ashok Kumar Sinha on Friday asked the administration to make arrangements at the newly constructed market complex near the Mahabodhi Mahavihara so that the shops on the temple complex can be shifted there.

Sinha passed the order at a meeting with tourism department secretary Mihir Kumar Singh and other senior officials. The complex, around 700m west of Mahabodhi Mahavihara, has 100 shops.

The tourism department constructed it. The complex does not yet have electricity and water connection.

At present, the temple complex has 58 shops — 27 owned by Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), 23 of the tourism department and eight of Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat. These have been closed since July 7 following the order by district magistrate Balamurgan D., who is also the BTMC chairman, after the series of low-intensity blasts at the temple.

The BTMC and the tourism department have served notice on the shop owners to vacate their business establishments.

While the BTMC has provided seven days time, the tourism department has been asked to immediately vacate the shops. The nagar panchayat has also served notice on the shop owners asking them to shift to the market at Node I.

After the meeting, the chief secretary told the reporters that all steps were being taken to ensure the security of the temple and the beautification of Bodhgaya.

Sources said he asked the officials concerned to install modern security gadgets at the temple. Security in and around the Mahavihara will also be beefed up with installation of more closed-circuit television cameras and baggage scanner.

Accompanied by director-general of police Abhayanand, home secretary Amir Subhani and other officials, he visited Jaiprakash Park, near Seyachen monastery.