The Government of Thailand has ordered a fresh review of the feasibility study for the proposed land bridge project, valued at around THB997 billion, amid continued objections from local communities and political groups.
The Ministry of Transport has instructed the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning to re-examine and clarify earlier findings on the project’s economic and technical viability. The land bridge is planned as a sea–land logistics corridor linking ports in Chumphon (Gulf of Thailand) and Ranong (Andaman Sea).
The project aims to provide an alternative to the Strait of Malacca, allowing cargo from Europe and the Middle East to be transferred across southern Thailand and continue to the Pacific, potentially reducing shipping time by about four days. The government plans to develop the project through private-sector participation via competitive bidding, rather than full public funding.