PM Says ฿1 Trillion Land Bridge Project Not Yet Cost-Effective, Pledges ‘Missing Link’ Transport Network

Bangkok - Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the government is reviewing and adjusting the proposed 1 trillion baht Chumphon-Ranong Land Bridge project, acknowledging that the massive infrastructure scheme is not yet economically viable given current cargo volumes.

Anutin said the government would instead focus initially on developing a transportation network to connect existing infrastructure and address what he described as “missing links” between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

“At the moment, it is not yet worthwhile, so we will wait until the project becomes cost-effective,” Anutin said. “What we will do first is create a transportation system that connects the missing links.”

He explained that the term “Missing Link” is commonly used in government meetings and national development planning to describe gaps in the country’s transportation infrastructure that need to be connected to create a more comprehensive logistics network.

Under the approach, Ranong would serve as an important link between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, while transportation connections involving Chumphon and Surat Thani would also be developed.

Anutin said the government would also upgrade Ranong Port to increase its capacity and strategic importance, including its ability to handle larger volumes of cargo and containers.

He acknowledged that current cargo volumes do not justify immediately investing in a large-scale land bridge, but said the government should begin developing the basic infrastructure needed to support future expansion.

“The current volume does not yet justify constructing a large-scale land bridge, but we have to start by laying the foundation,” he said.

Anutin said the long-term objective would be to establish Ranong as an alternative logistics gateway capable of connecting Thailand with markets in Asia, Europe, India and the Middle East.

He envisioned a future in which goods arriving from Europe could enter Thailand through Ranong and move directly to the southern and northern parts of the country, as well as along the western coast, potentially reducing the need to route cargo through Bangkok before continuing toward China.

Similarly, Thai exports could be routed through Ranong toward India, the Middle East and Europe.

“Once people see the convenience, it will be like opening a new shop. You start small and gradually expand,” Anutin said.

He added that the government already has a development framework and has conducted studies into the project. If demand increases and further expansion becomes necessary, the government would be prepared to proceed.

Government to Follow Public Opinion

Anutin also stressed that the future of the land bridge would depend partly on the views of local communities in Ranong, Chumphon and neighboring provinces.

“If the people of Ranong and Chumphon believe the project will benefit their areas, they should support and advocate for it,” he said.

At the same time, he said the government would not force the project through if local communities ultimately rejected it.

“If the people of Ranong, Chumphon and the neighboring provinces say they do not want it, then we will not build it,” Anutin said.

However, he expressed confidence that residents in the South would recognize the potential economic opportunities associated with improved connectivity.

“I believe the people of Ranong, Chumphon and the South will not let this opportunity pass,” he said, adding that the government would continue to listen to public opinion and assess what is in the best interests of the country as a whole.

For Ranong, Anutin said, the immediate priority would be to establish a complete and integrated transportation network rather than proceed directly with the full-scale land bridge.

“There will be no losses for Ranong today,” he said. “We will build an integrated transportation network first, and then gradually consider how it should be expanded in the future.”

The Better News English