"Phiphat" accelerates the launch of the 997,680-million-baht "Land Bridge" project to open a new global transport route addressing the limitations of strait passages, and is set to call OTP for a data update. The target is to submit the draft SEC Act to the Cabinet for approval in June, while the Finance Ministry issue over establishing the SEC Fund is to be resolved — with an emphasis on development and promotion rather than burdening the national budget. Design studies and EIA reports for the railway and motorway are expected to be completed by year-end and will be bundled with the draft RFP for Cabinet submission.
Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, disclosed that he will accelerate the push for the Land Bridge project to connect transport between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (the Land Bridge), as well as the development of the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC). Beyond opening a new global transport route, the project will generate at least 200,000 jobs and livelihoods for Thailand. He said he will call for an update on the study results that the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) has conducted, and will push to finalise the findings for presentation to the Cabinet between June and July of this year.
"In the past, Thailand has fought over the Kra Canal — or Thai Canal — for no fewer than 50 to 60 years, yet nothing concrete has materialised. The current situation is an opportunity to push the 'Land Bridge' into reality."
The unrest in the Middle East, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the instability in the Red Sea, has paralysed shipping in the region, highlighting the critical importance and risk of relying solely on strait-based sea routes. Furthermore, the Strait of Malacca — a strategic chokepoint in the ASEAN region — is highly congested and faces physical limitations, with the navigable channel for vessels measuring only approximately 2.8 kilometres in width. Reports that a neighbouring country such as Indonesia may consider imposing transit tolls on the strait have also emerged; if that were to materialise, it would represent a strong opportunity for Thailand to offer the Land Bridge project as a new alternative for global shipping.
@OTP and Finance Ministry set to meet on SEC Fund establishment issue — emphasis on development and promotion, not a budgetary burden
Mr. Jirorot Sukolrat, Director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), stated that in order to drive the Land Bridge project forward, the Southern Economic Corridor Act B.E. …. — or the SEC Act — must first be enacted. As for progress on the draft SEC Act, the remaining issue concerns the establishment of the SEC Fund. The Policy Committee on Revolving Fund Administration of the Comptroller General's Department, Ministry of Finance, has scheduled a meeting in May 2026, at which the issue of establishing the SEC Fund — which will be a new fund — is expected to be confirmed. The underlying principle is that investors operating within the SEC area will contribute to the fund in proportion to the area of their investment, with no reliance on the national budget. The fund is intended for the promotion and development of professional personnel in the area, which will benefit both local communities and investors alike; it is not a compensation fund for alleviating impacts in any way. A conclusion is expected to be reached and presented to the Cabinet for approval, after which the bill will proceed to the House of Representatives and the Senate for their consideration.
Once the SEC Act is in place, an SEC Office can be established to oversee the development of the Southern Economic Corridor, covering four provinces: Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. The Infrastructure Development Project for Transport to Develop the Southern Economic Corridor Connecting the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (the Land Bridge Project) is one of the flagship projects within the Southern Economic Corridor.
To date, OTP has conducted studies and held public consultations over a period of four years, organising more than 60 official public hearings with local residents and stakeholders. The findings from all consultations have been used to formulate comprehensive measures for the prevention of, and remediation for, impacts on affected parties — guided by the principle of sustainable project development, so that the project can coexist with communities while also caring for the environment.
In parallel, OTP has been conducting a feasibility study, preliminary design, environmental impact assessment, and Business Development Model analysis. The investment plan has been revised to align with current conditions and global economic trends. The total investment value stands at 997,680.1 million baht, with development divided into three phases. A Market Sounding exercise for investors has been conducted, and roadshows have been held for foreign investors. The project is currently in the process of incorporating the feedback received to revise the draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for private sector participation in the Land Bridge project, in order to align with private sector requirements and to conform with government policy and development guidelines. Once the RFP revision is complete, another round of Market Sounding will be conducted, which is expected to take place after the draft SEC Act has received Cabinet approval.
@Design studies and EIA reports for "double-track railway and Chumphon–Ranong motorway" expected to be completed by year-end
The Land Bridge project comprises two seaports — Ranong Port and Chumphon Port — connected via a motorway and a standard-gauge (1.435-metre) railway linking Chumphon and Ranong. Design work and environmental impact studies are being conducted in parallel. For the two seaports, OTP is responsible for the design study and the preparation of the Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) report, which has already been completed and submitted to the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP). The Department of Highways is responsible for the Definitive Design study and the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the motorway. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is responsible for the design study and EIA report for the double-track standard-gauge (1.435-metre) railway. These are expected to be completed by the end of this year, after which they will be consolidated with the project study findings and the draft RFP for submission to the Cabinet.
