Bangkok, Thailand – Web Desk: Thailand has revived a proposed $30 billion “Land Bridge” megaproject aimed at bypassing key global shipping bottlenecks, as recent disruptions in strategic maritime routes highlight growing vulnerabilities in international trade.
According to officials, the project envisions a coast-to-coast transport corridor linking two deep-sea ports in southern Thailand—Chumphon on the Gulf of Thailand and Ranong on the Andaman Sea—through a 90-kilometre rail and highway network.
The initiative has gained renewed attention following recent instability around critical sea lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca, which are among the world’s busiest and most strategically important maritime chokepoints.
If completed, the corridor is expected to significantly reshape regional logistics by reducing shipping times by up to 14 days and cutting transport costs by nearly 30 percent. Government projections suggest the system could handle up to 20 million containers annually, targeting feeder vessels moving between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Thai authorities say the project is designed to strengthen energy security and position the country as a regional logistics hub, though officials note it is not intended for the largest ultra-large container ships currently operating on global routes.
