Patna, Oct. 24: Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) has expedited steps to open the organised Mahabodhi Market Complex in Bodhgaya for regular business. The complex, the construction of which was completed in 2007-08, has not become operational till date.

“The corporation has recently invited applications from interested parties, which can run 142 shops in node-1 of the Mahabodhi Market Complex, located near the old block office building in Bodhgaya. We intend to start a few restaurants and other eateries, which would offer continental cuisines for tourists coming here from different countries. Several shops would sell handicraft, stonecraft and other hand-made art and craft products of Bihar. Moreover, similar products based on tourism circuits of other states would also be available in other shops. Trekking and adventure related products would also be on sale in a few shops for fulfilling the requirements of tourists. However, no general grocery store will run inside this new complex. We expect to open as many shops as possible in node-1 by early-2012,” said Shailendra Kumar, general manager, BSTDC.

Sources also claimed that the 30 existing shops around Mahabodhi Mahavihara temple would be shifted to the new market complex. BSTDC also plans to make the area around the temple a vehicle-free zone, where only battery-operated vehicles would run in 1-km radius of the temple. “Together, both these moves would ensure a pollution-free environment and congestion around the world heritage site,” said the official. Sources said Central Public Works Department (CPWD) started construction of the 10-acre Mahabodhi Market Complex in Bodhgaya in 2003-04. The node-1 of the complex, with 142 shops, was completed by 2007 at Rs 1.4 crore. The construction of node-2 of this market complex on the other hand was completed by 2008. Nearly, Rs 75 lakh was spent on the construction of 71 shops in node-2.

Since Unesco declared Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple a world heritage site, certain protocol needs to be followed before initiating any commercial activity in the area, sources said. They added that existing shops around the temple are not willing to shift to the new marketing complex.

Another source said CPWD has handed over node-1 of the new marketing complex in 2009 despite its completion in 2007. Node-2 was recently handed over to BSTDC.