Politician Calls for Land Bridge Project Cancellation
A Democratic Party MP calls for cancellation of the Land Bridge project linking the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea, after a government committee found it economically unfeasible and a fiscal burden, proposing instead to invest in southern
On July 25, Chaiachana Detchdecho, a Democratic Party list MP and deputy southern regional chief, responded after Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithadprasap announced the findings of a committee studying the Land Bridge project—a transport infrastructure initiative to link shipping between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The committee determined the project has low feasibility, risks burdening the national budget, and carries considerable risk.
Chaiachana thanked the committee for its comprehensive analysis and for reflecting the reality that the Land Bridge is an uneconomical investment for the country. He called on the government and cabinet to seriously consider the committee's findings when deliberating the matter in cabinet meetings.
"When the study clearly shows the project carries high risk and poor economic returns, the government should listen to expert voices and public opinion, and should not proceed with a project that may burden the nation's budget in the future," Chaiachana said.
He proposed redirecting the Land Bridge budget to develop southern rail infrastructure by accelerating rail connections to major southern ports—Padang Besar, Kantang, and Ranong—and expanding rail links to ports nationwide to boost logistics capacity, reduce transport costs, and strengthen national competitiveness.
Chaiachana also proposed developing Thungsong District in Nakhon Si Thammarat as a regional cargo distribution and inland container depot hub, similar to Ladkrabang, to efficiently link rail, road, and maritime transport.
"Future large government projects must be based on careful analysis, economic value, and public input," Chaiachana said. "We must thank the committee for listening to the people and urge the government to do the same, because every baht is public tax money that must deliver maximum benefit."