Thailand's proposed Land Bridge connecting the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea has effectively been shelved after a government study found it offered low commercial viability and carried high financial and environmental risks.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas announced the outcome at Government House at 4pm on 24 July 2026, following the final meeting of the committee appointed to examine the project.

Asked directly whether the plan had been dropped, Ekniti replied: "You could say that."

The committee completed its work 90 days ahead of schedule. Its review was divided between three groups covering economic and investment viability, environmental matters, and public consultation and participation.

Why the panel rejected it

Ekniti said the studies concluded that the Land Bridge had only a low level of feasibility and could create a significant burden on the state budget.

The project's projected returns were vulnerable to external events, he said. Disruption in the Middle East had reduced global trade, meaning returns previously expected to be positive could instead become negative.

The committee also identified competitive and operational risks. Shipping lines were considered unlikely to shift to the proposed Thai route because they had already formed alliances elsewhere, while the speed of transferring cargo through the corridor was another concern.

As a result, Ekniti said the project offered relatively low economic returns while carrying substantial risks.

Environmental concerns were also found to be high. The review said more strategic assessment was needed of potential effects on marine ecosystems, coastal communities' ways of life, food security and forest areas.

Public consultation showed divided views. Private-sector and manufacturing groups were supportive, but most other participants were concerned or undecided. Marine conservation groups opposed the scheme, with environmental issues and transparency among the principal concerns raised.

Ranong port and rail links proposed

Rather than pursuing the Land Bridge, the committee recommended improving Ranong port on the Andaman coast, where the private sector still sees a need for southern sea access.

It also proposed examining rail connections to Ranong port and developing missing rail links that could connect northwards towards China, as well as to ports on Thailand's eastern seaboard.

Ekniti said major investment schemes should begin with a clear national strategy before agencies commission detailed studies. Environmental strategy and lessons from public consultation should also be included from the outset, he said.

The committee will now submit its final report to the prime minister. If approved, it will then go to the Cabinet, in line with the order establishing the committee.

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

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25 July 2026

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I should think so too, more sensible heads will prevail!

I never thought the plan was feasible. It seemed obvious from the inception. An exporter/importer would need two ships. The first is loaded and then unloaded at first port, then trucked to the other port, loaded again on a second ship and then unloaded at destination. A lot of energy and extra expense needed. More handling. It might be true that it would save some time by not sailing all the way around Singapore, but it's not worth it. I guess the artist's conception of the two ports is not to scale - just to see what a project might look like. Because if the two ports were actually that close together they could just dig a canal.

I dont think anyone here on AN saw this coming after they announced the initial plan.

The Ranong/China railway link looks like an interesting alternative. In theory (but this is Thailand) quicker, cheaper & more useful than the land bridge idea.

Only China has the deep pockets to build out the infrastructure 30-50 years out nowadays.

2 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Only China has the deep pockets to build out the infrastructure 30-50 years out nowadays.

And they won't touch it because of buraucratic obfuscation and the inherent corruption...

How is that Hgh Speed Rail link coming along?

Just add this one to the list of failed major projects....

Like

The Pattaya monorail or Tram

The Bridge to Koh Samui

The 3 airport high-speed rail

Pattaya Eastern Sports Stadium

Hopewell

Disneyland in Thailand

Being the HUB of everything under the sun...

8 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Just add this one to the list of failed major projects....

Like

The Pattaya monorail or Tram

The Bridge to Koh Samui

The 3 airport high-speed rail

Pattaya Eastern Sports Stadium

Hopewell

Disneyland in Thailand

Being the HUB of everything under the sun...

Very true. I didn't see a figure quoted for the Feasibility Study. The above list shows 3 with Pattaya fingerprints on them. Like painting the Forth Bridge, these 'studies' are nice little earners; maybe the 20 years of improvements to the Railway Road falls into this category?

Kra canal, land bridge... same same, resurfaces every 10-15 years or so, gets talked about for a year, then disappears again into dusty archives until it's time to squeeze some money out of Singapore again...

Thailand cutting Singapore out of the cargo business? I don't see why it should want to hurt a fellow member of ASEAN.

They're are so many infrastructure projects within Thailand that need doing.

Amazing Thailand — amazing it took so long time to calculate...🫣

How many friends/family members of the current regime were paid to study what was blatantly obvious to even the blind? They're probably having a laugh about the whole ruse at some private golf course.

Comment on moderation removed.

@ronnie50 your posts were removed, because this topic is “Thailand shelves Land Bridge plan after study” you posts were only about the high speed train link and offered nothing but a link to the Bangkokpost.

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