AS PRIME Minister/Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is keen on further considering the 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge project, the Transport Ministry will be tabling the scheme to the cabinet sometime between June and July with the aim of starting it within this year, Amarin TV said today (April 25).
The Land Bridge project is designed to connect two seas – the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand – between Ranong and Chumphon to accommodate seagoing mercantile ships whilst a six-lane motorway and dual-track railways are designed to link the southern coastal provinces with the western and central regions of the country.
Thailand will not be investing in the megaproject only providing land concessions for investors to carry it out.
Deputy Prime Minister/Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said as the Strait of Hormuz crisis could lead to additional problems in future, this presents an opportunity for Thailand to connect the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
Regarding criticism that Thailand will not benefit from the project due to time-consuming loading and unloading of containers, Pipat said his research indicates that over 90 percent of container ships are transshipped. That means it is not about transporting goods from one country to their final destination 100 percent, but rather consolidating goods from various ports and transshipping them separately for different countries.
Therefore, it is incorrect to say that Thailand would not benefit from the time saving provided by the land bridge; if goods are not transshipped on the Thai coast, they would have to be transshipped from Singapore.
The minister also said that this megaproject will start this year with the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning having completed its survey, and he will soon conduct another site inspection.
“As for where construction will begin, we need to consult with investors first. There will be a bidding process, with both domestic and international investors invited and given equal opportunity.
“It will depend on them where they choose to invest first. Prior to proceeding, we must obtain approval from the cabinet,” he said.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page – Representative image of the Land Bridge project. Photo: Thai Rath
Insert – Deputy Prime Minister/Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn. Photo – Amarin TV
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