Pre-trained Object Detection models don't have any variables to export in the variables folder for TF2.x usage

System information

• Have I written custom code (as opposed to using a stock example script provided in TensorFlow): No
• OS Platform and Distribution (e.g., Linux Ubuntu 16.04): Ubuntu 18.04
• Mobile device (e.g., Pixel 4, Samsung Galaxy 10) if the issue happens on mobile device:
• TensorFlow installed from (source or binary): binary
• TensorFlow version (use command below): 2.1
• Python version: 3.7
• Bazel version (if compiling from source):
• GCC/Compiler version (if compiling from source):
• CUDA/cuDNN version: 7.6.5
• GPU model and memory: Tesla T4

Please provide the entire URL of the model you are using?

https://github.com/tensorflow/models/blob/master/research/object_detection/g3doc/detection_model_zoo.md
Describe the current behavior
Related issue: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorrt/issues/178
TF2.x looks for variables from the variables folder to restore the model but this folder is empty in the pretrained models available for download. I have tried converting from the checkpoint given but it just creates an empty frozen graph.
Describe the expected behavior
A saved_model file + a variables folder should be created when using this.
Code to reproduce the issue

Look at related issue
Other info / logs