Thailand’s government is pushing an ambitious infrastructure plan called an “land bridge” that would link the Gulf of Thailand in the east to the Andaman Sea in the west. The proposed 90-kilometer logistics corridor would include two giant ports, highways and high-speed rail lines, allowing cargo to be unloaded on one side of the peninsula, moved overland, and shipped out again from the other side. Reuters reported the project on Thursday, and officials say it could cost about $30 billion.
The idea is to offer an alternative to the congested Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, through which much of the trade between Asia and Europe passes. Supporters say the project could cut voyage times by about two weeks and save money for countries such as China. But the plan is technically and financially complex, and shipping companies may be reluctant to transfer containers twice because of the extra cost and time.
The strongest opposition is coming from fishermen, farmers and other residents in the areas where the ports and rail line would be built. They say the project would destroy their livelihoods rather than connect the country, and they fear industrial development would pollute water and damage fertile land used for coffee, durian fruit and fish farms. Regulators have already paused the plans to reassess the project’s environmental and health impact.
Political concerns are also slowing progress. Thailand’s neighbors view the scheme with suspicion, and foreign investors remain cautious over political instability and the possibility that China could try to dominate the project, creating diplomatic problems for Bangkok. A government committee is expected to deliver a final feasibility report by the end of July, which will help decide whether the land bridge goes ahead or remains an expensive idea.
