Mangaluru : Dr Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisargadhama introduced 14 battery operated cars, with two more in the offing, for benefit of tourists who visit facilities spread across the 356-acre expanse in Vamanjoor and Moodushedde villages on Monday, Januvary 21.

These cars will help tourists appreciate wide ranging diversity inherent in the Western Ghats, V.Prasanna, executive director of the Nisargadhama said. Operating at walking pace, the cars will give one sufficient time to enjoy nature up close and personal, something that one can’t do if they are in their own vehicles, he said. Besides, ban on fossil fuel operated vehicles inside the Nisargadhama is in sync with its green objectives, he averred.

Operating on a hop-on hop-off basis, tourists on payment of nominal fee of Rs 25 may use convenience these cars provide to visit regional science centre, planetarium, Biological Park, boating centre, heritage village, arboretum and Guttumane spread across the Nisargadhama. Incidentally, the biological park has its own battery operated cars and tourists may avail its services inside the park and hop on to these cars once outside, Prasanna said.

Other reason for introducing these cars is also to lessen impact that operation of vehicles will have on the local environment, he said. “The arboretum has treasure trove collection of some rare and endemic Western Ghat species and these need to be protected,” he said. The cars will also come in handy for the aged and persons with physical disabilities to take a tour of the facilities without tiring themselves and at their leisure, he noted.

Only concession to this ‘no vehicle rule’ inside the Nisargadhama is for villagers who will be issued vehicle passes. “Since cars operate on Nisargadhama roads, it will be risky to allow other vehicles here,” he said. Plans are afoot to introduce wrist bands to help car operators identify those wanting to avail its service. Based on response more cars will be introduced, he said. Umanath Kotyan, Mulki-Moodbidri MLA dedicated these cars for public use.