Bangkok: Korn Chatikavanij, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, has expressed strong opposition to the government's proposed Land Bridge project, arguing that it is both costly and time-consuming without offering the promised savings in money or time.
According to Thai News Agency, Korn made his views known through a post on his personal Facebook page, where he criticized the government's decision to proceed with the Land Bridge project without establishing a committee for planning and oversight. Korn noted that the government has frequently asserted that the Land Bridge would provide a more economical and quicker alternative to shipping through the Strait of Malacca. However, he pointed out that calculations from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning report suggest otherwise, indicating that the project would incur higher costs and longer durations.
Korn emphasized that these findings should lead to a reconsideration of the project, arguing that it should not be justified by potential benefits to the southern economic zone, transshipment, energy complex, or national sovereignty. He stated that none of these factors were adequately considered in the studies conducted. Korn urged the government to re-evaluate its stance and refrain from pursuing the project under its current premise.