Thailand has revived a $30 billion Land Bridge project to create a coast-to-coast transport corridor and offer an alternative route to the Strait of Malacca, officials said.
The plan gained renewed attention after the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz highlighted global dependence on maritime chokepoints.
The proposed corridor would connect two new deep-sea ports in southern Thailand. Chumphon on the Gulf of Thailand and Ranong on the Andaman Sea would be linked through a 90-kilometre rail and highway network.
The project aims to improve Thailand’s energy security and reduce logistics costs by nearly 30%. It could cut shipping times by up to 14 days for cargo moving between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Government estimates said the link could handle up to 20 million shipping containers a year. Officials said the project would mainly target feeder cargo vessels rather than the world’s largest container ships.
The Strait of Malacca lies between Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. One of the world’s most important trade routes and a key passage for global maritime commerce.’
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The project faces opposition from local fishing and farming communities. Residents fear disruption to livelihoods, while climate and maritime activists have raised concerns about marine ecosystems.
Thailand’s government expects to receive a final project review by the end of July. It is seeking private investors for one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects in decades.
