NESDC yet to study Land Bridge plan
The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has not conducted a formal study of the proposed Land Bridge project, its secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan clarified, rejecting claims that the agency had already found the scheme economically unviable.
Mr Danucha said on Tuesday assessments frequently cited in public debate referred not to the Land Bridge, but to the long-discussed "Thai Canal" project during the administration of former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
That study, he said, was commissioned at the time to evaluate potential economic returns.
"The NESDC has never studied the Land Bridge project in detail," he said, stressing that conclusions about its viability cannot be drawn from past analyses of unrelated proposals.
Mr Danucha explained that an earlier comparative study examined three development options: the Thai Canal, the Land Bridge concept and the Southern Economic Corridor. The findings suggested that the canal would generate the lowest returns, followed by the Land Bridge, largely due to its high investment costs.
He said the comparison was illustrative rather than a formal feasibility assessment, and that its conclusions were conditional.
"If the Land Bridge is developed as a standalone logistics route, the benefits would be limited," he said. "But if it is integrated with industrial development and broader economic zones, the outcome could be different."
He cited the Southern Economic Corridor as an example of a more comprehensive model, combining infrastructure with industrial estates and agricultural development, which was found to deliver stronger overall benefits.
With the government signalling its intention to proceed with the Land Bridge, Mr Danucha said it was too early to determine whether the project would be worthwhile. A proper assessment, he said, would depend on detailed project design, the investment structure and the inclusion of supporting industries.
He also pointed to the absence of a fully functional deep-sea export port on Thailand's western seaboard as a key gap, adding that developing such infrastructure could be a practical first step.
"At present, there is no major export port on the western side. If we begin with a port in Ranong and gradually expand, it could be beneficial," he said, noting that such a facility could connect domestic production to markets in India, the Middle East and Europe, while complementing existing capacity at Laem Chabang port.
Mr Danucha added that the Transport Ministry has been the main agency conducting detailed studies on the Land Bridge, and any final decision should be based on comprehensive data from those efforts.
The project has also drawn scrutiny over its environmental impact, particularly the Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) studies for planned deep-sea ports in Ranong and Chumphon.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin said relevant agencies would be invited to review the findings and address public concerns.
Key Insights
- This topic is currently trending
- Experts are closely monitoring developments
- It may impact future decisions
