Siripongse Affirms Government Will Invest in Land Bridge at the Right Time and Cost—Reserves Professions for Thai Citizens
Deputy Transport Minister Siripongse defended the government's revival of the Land Bridge project, citing growing maritime congestion in the Strait of Malacca and geopolitical instability making alternative shipping routes essential.
At 11:25 AM on April 30, 2026, the House of Representatives convened with Parliament Speaker Sophon Sararum presiding over a live question session. Phuket MP Orthaikaed Kerdtrop of the Palang Pracharath Party questioned the Prime Minister about the Land Bridge project, which was answered by Deputy Transport Minister Siripongse Angskulgiat.
Kerdtrop sought clarity on why the government was reviving the Land Bridge project—originally shelved due to economic and environmental opposition—without including it in the policy statement, and questioned its financial viability given conflicting data. She cited a joint study by Chulalongkorn University and the National Economic and Social Development Council concluding that the 30-year project cannot recoup its investment, with negative NPV and financial returns. In contrast, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning claimed it would break even within 24 years with positive NPV, prompting her to request clarification on the discrepancy and accountability if the investment fails.
Siripongse explained that the Land Bridge was revived due to compelling maritime realities: 90,000 ships annually transit the Strait of Malacca, projected to reach 110,000 by 2030, creating congestion. The narrowest section, just 2.8 kilometers wide, experiences 60 accidents yearly. He referenced global shipping crises—the Suez Canal blockage, Red Sea attacks diverting ships around the Cape of Good Hope (adding 10 days), and Panama Canal climate impacts stranding 38 vessels—demonstrating the need for alternative shipping corridors.
"While these are forward projections, current Middle East instability has convinced nations that alternative transportation routes are essential," Siripongse stated. "Thailand previously considered a Thai Canal or Land Bridge, with consensus that the Land Bridge offers better investment returns."
He emphasized the timing is critical because congestion in the Strait of Malacca is projected within the next decade, necessitating an alternative route. Additional factors include unpredictable geopolitical tensions among major powers and the readiness of smart port technology and AI-digitalization. "Modern technology means ships no longer need transferring between different modes of transport," he explained. "The Land Bridge would save transit time between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea."
