CHITWAN: Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Bikram Pandey today said that works have been started for expanding the road linking Bharatpur to Madi, which passes through the Chitwan National Park.

Talking to journalists here on Tuesday, the Minister said works on felling trees along the road alignment inside the park area have been started. Eight kilometres of the Bharatpur-Madi road lies within the park area.

It is also stated that home work is being done for preparing the environment for waiving off the fees from the Madi locals while entering the park.

"The Madi folks have to pay fees even when going home from the district headquarters. This will be done away with soon," he said referring to the entry fee that the park charges the Madi locals while travelling home from Bharatpur, the district headquarters, via the park.

The charge is Rs 10 for bullock-cart, motorcycle and horse-cart, and Rs 50 for bus, car, jeep, tractor and lorry including vehicles weighing five tonnes.

On a different topic, Minister Pandey said he will be contesting in the House of Representatives elections slated for November 26 from Chitwan constituency-3.

Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has also announced to contest the election from the same constituency as a Leftist Alliance candidate.