Over 200 Residents Oppose Dual-Track Railway Project Through Krabi
Over 200 residents from Krabi and Phang Nga provinces filed objections to a dual-track railway project that would seize 2,000 rai of farmland and over 400 homes, saying compensation is insufficient and the economically unviable project lack
Over 200 residents from 12 subdistricts across four districts in Krabi and Phang Nga provinces filed an objection to the Thabruet-Krabi dual-track railway project on July 23, 2026, after learning their agricultural land and homes would be seized for the railway corridor. The project would affect approximately 2,000 rai of farmland and over 400 residential properties situated along the railway alignment.
The complainants petitioned the Prime Minister through the Krabi provincial governor, urging him to suspend the project because it lacks genuine economic merit, operates at a loss from inception, destroys agricultural areas, and provides poor value for public investment. They requested the government explore more suitable alternatives that do not require new land confiscation.
Most residents said they had little prior knowledge of the project before receiving meeting invitations in late June. Some faced particular hardship after recently completing new homes that now lie within the railway corridor, causing significant distress. The anticipated land compensation is insufficient to purchase replacement property in the densely settled area, where land prices far exceed the government's official valuation.
Furthermore, the 60-meter-wide railway corridor would severely impact farming operations in some cases, leaving residents with little usable agricultural land. The route also passes through forest and wetland areas, as well as a water source supplying over 2,000 residents in Ao Luk District.