Anutin Affirms Land Bridge Advancement to Boost Revenue Inflow, Directs Questions to Ekniti on Thai Help Thai Plus Program

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reiterated his administration's push to move forward with the Land Bridge project, which aims to generate revenue for the country. The project will be presented to the Cabinet for consideration between June and July this year. According to Anutin, the Land Bridge represents a core policy priority for the Bhumjaithai Party, with designs updated to align with current conditions, including technological considerations and construction costs. The PM emphasized the urgency of moving forward, noting that Thailand must capitalize on strategic transportation corridors to create income streams and foster economic prosperity. When asked about public understanding in affected areas, Anutin stated this was a collective national interest matter. Regarding the Thai Help Thai Plus stimulus program, Anutin said the Cabinet submission timeline was set for June, pending approval in May. He clarified that the program, originally branded as "People 50-50" during campaigning, has been rebranded and restructured as "Thai Help Thai Plus" to address Middle Eastern regional concerns. The new format allocates 1,000 baht monthly for four months (totaling 4,000 baht per recipient) rather than the original two-month duration. When pressed for specific registration numbers, Anutin deflected to Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, explaining that he would only answer whether he approves the concept in principle, but not operational details, as his detailed responses might discourage other officials from taking initiative. He expressed full support for all ministerial and coalition partner initiatives, offering approval pending further consultation. On the Clean Air Act legislation, Anutin confirmed his party's support for the Bhumjaithai Party's draft version currently under parliamentary review.