Bangkok: More than half of the population in southern Thailand has only a basic understanding of the Land Bridge project, yet the majority express agreement with its implementation.
According to Thai News Agency, a recent NIDA Poll reveals that awareness of the Land Bridge project among citizens aged 18 and over in 14 southern provinces is relatively low, but support remains significant.
The survey highlights that 54.43 percent of respondents have heard of the Land Bridge project but possess little understanding of it. Meanwhile, 26.67 percent claimed to have heard of and somewhat understood the project, and 10.52 percent reported having a strong understanding. Notably, 7.08 percent had no prior knowledge of the project, and 1.30 percent admitted to hearing about it but not understanding it at all.
Concerns regarding the project are varied, with 38.03 percent of participants worried about its impact on the natural environment. In contrast, 33.16 percent expressed no concerns, while 29.71 percent cited potential impacts on local communities' livelihoods, including land expropriation and lifestyle changes. Corruption and a lack of transparency were concerns for 25.81 percent of respondents.
Despite these concerns, some participants viewed the project positively. About 15.30 percent believe it's worthwhile in the long run, while 11.78 percent think it will benefit people in southern Thailand, and 11.40 percent see nationwide benefits.
Challenges such as construction delays, budgetary issues, and securing investors were also noted by respondents, with 10.50 percent concerned about delays and unmet targets, 7.58 percent worried about budgetary constraints, and 6.30 percent about attracting investors. Additionally, 6.15 percent considered the possibility of Thailand becoming a competitive area among major powers.
When asked for their overall opinion on the project, 34.21 percent of respondents strongly agreed with it, followed by 33.01 percent who somewhat agreed. Conversely, 19.43 percent somewhat disagreed, and 13.35 percent expressed strong disagreement, indicating a diverse range of perspectives among the southern Thai population.