The government spokesman acknowledged the NIDA poll results on the "Land Bridge" project, emphasizing the need for wide communication. Anutin reiterated the urgency to foster understanding and listen to all dimensions to ensure the project's careful progress and maximize benefits for the country.
4 May 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, commented on the NIDA poll survey titled “What Do Southerners Think? The Land Bridge Project is Coming” which found that among 1,333 respondents who had heard about the project (ranging from well understood, somewhat understood, to barely understood), 67.22% supported the project, divided into 34.21% strongly supportive and 33.01% somewhat supportive, while about 32.78% opposed it. This reflects both the project's opportunities and the government's role in ongoing, transparent communication.
The government spokesman addressed the topic “Awareness and Understanding of the Land Bridge Project among Southern People,” noting that over half, or 54.53%, had heard of it but understood only slightly. He said this presents a challenge for the government to intensify efforts in communicating and raising awareness, especially among those who have not heard of or do not understand the project, to provide better access to information.
“The Prime Minister has instructed all related agencies to accelerate efforts in building public understanding of the Land Bridge project, which is one of the country’s key infrastructure initiatives. He also emphasized the continuous openness to feedback from all sectors to ensure that decision-making and project advancement are comprehensive and bring maximum benefits to the nation.”
Many academics and interested parties have continuously voiced both support and concerns regarding the project. However, a common consensus is that the Land Bridge project is a crucial strategy to enhance Thailand’s competitiveness in logistics, infrastructure development, job creation, and attracting foreign investment, potentially acting as a key driver for the long-term economy.
Nonetheless, the government remains focused on critical issues such as investment value, economic feasibility, and the environmental and community impacts in the areas involved. All these aspects must be studied in detail to establish appropriate mitigating measures, ensuring the project proceeds efficiently, transparently, and with accountability.
“The Prime Minister emphasized that every issue must be clearly explained. Although there is overall support, public concerns persist. Therefore, the government must accelerate communication, foster understanding, and continuously receive feedback to ensure the project’s progress is careful and gains acceptance.”