Thailand Shelves $1 Trillion Baht Land Bridge Megaproject

Thailand has shelved its ambitious one-trillion-baht 'land bridge' megaproject, which aimed to create an alternative trade route across the Kra Isthmus to bypass the Strait of Malacca. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas announced the decision on July 24, citing a government feasibility study that confirmed poor financial returns. The project would have involved constructing two deep-sea ports linked by a dual-track railway and six-lane motorway across 90 kilometers, requiring massive land reclamation in ecologically sensitive provinces. Instead, the government will pursue a downsized upgrade of Ranong Port, including modernization and a direct rail connection to the national network. The decision was welcomed by the Thai public, which opposed the project over environmental concerns and fears of excessive foreign capital. However, the heavy promotion of the project to international investors despite its questionable viability has damaged Thailand's credibility, especially as other major infrastructure projects like the high-speed rail linking three airports remain stalled.