Gaya: The three-day general strike called by residents and businessmen to protest new traffic regulations, including ban on entry of four-wheelers in a 1km radius of Mahabodhi Mahavihara, has hit tourism, the backbone of the local economy, hard.

Though the strike ended Sunday, the standoff between the district officials and residents continued, with both sides unwilling to blink first in the ongoing battle of nerves. Residents iterating the demand for status quo ante till the finalisation of an alternative route plan.

The hospitality sector suffered huge losses and a sizeable number of foreign tourists rescheduled their plan making an early departure. According to Arun Kumar Ojha, a tour operator, domestic tourists have deserted Bodhgaya. A sizeable number of foreign tourists too have made an early exit and gone to places such as Nalanda, Rajgir and Varanasi. "The long-term effect of the strike and the resultant inconvenience caused to visitors will result in lesser number tourist footfall," said Ojha. Terming the new traffic plan as "non pragmatic", Ojha hoped that better sense prevailed on both sides.

Earlier, the officials made several changes in the original plan to accommodate some demands of the strikers. The concessions made include exemption granted to bikers from the ban purview and allowing loading and unloading in the restricted zone between 9pm and 5am.

Meanwhile, district magistrate Abhishekh Singh, through a formal press release, has denied knowledge of any plan to demolish existing structures within 500m radius of the shrine's outer wall to create a buffer zone as recommended by the Unesco while notifying Mahabodhi temple as a World Heritage Site. It has brought relief to the local population.