Bangkok: The Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has clarified that a cost-benefit study of the "land bridge" project has never been conducted. Mr. Danucha Pichayanant, addressing claims of the project's economic unviability, stated that such assertions were based on inaccurate data. He explained that the NESDC's previous study focused on the "Thai Canal" project, as requested by the Prime Minister and the Thai Canal Association, and not directly related to the land bridge project.
According to Thai News Agency, initial studies at the time compared the Thai Canal project, the Southern Economic Corridor, and the land bridge concept. The findings indicated that the Thai Canal offered the least benefits, with the land bridge following closely due to high investment costs. It was noted that if the land bridge is merely used for transporting goods, without further industrial development, it may not yield significant benefits. However, the Southern Economic Corridor, with areas dedicated to industrial development, was projected to generate far greater benefits.
Mr. Danucha emphasized that the NESDC has never seriously studied the land bridge project, and conclusions about its cost-effectiveness were based on the Thai Canal project study. Regarding the government's progress on the land bridge project, he stated that the project's format, investment details, and expected benefits must be considered comprehensively. He highlighted that mere goods transportation is insufficient, and simultaneous development of the area and industrial sectors is necessary.