A senator criticized the government's weak justifications for accelerating the land bridge project, fearing it could pull Thailand into a strategic conflict risk zone. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn will explain in a Senate inquiry scheduled for 11 May.
On 4 May 2026, Senator Noraset Pratyakorn spoke about submitting a motion to the Senate on 5 May requesting the government to reconsider the land bridge project. He said many senators are interested and preparing information for debate. He described the government's rationale—that risks from wartime closures of various shipping straits, and increased shipping traffic through the Malacca Strait necessitate alternative routes—as too weak and unconvincing. During wartime, all shipping straits and connected routes risk closure. Without a proper balance among major powers, the land bridge project could place Thailand in a strategic conflict zone, risking route closures during war. He questioned the urgency driving the project's fast-tracking, noting initial claims of economic growth benefits have shifted to citing maritime strait risks.
Noraset said the data from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) on the land bridge project is incomplete, lacking clear economic feasibility calculations. Claims of many ships using the land bridge route remain unverified. This conflicts with a Chulalongkorn University report that highlights risks in the land bridge model, such as multiple loading and unloading steps increasing transport costs and discouraging ship usage. Numerous vulnerabilities may not just be risk points but critical weaknesses undermining the project. He questioned why the government is rushing the project despite unresolved issues like investment worthiness and environmental impacts. He is aware the government is pushing to complete the Southern Special Economic Corridor (SEC) Act this year to accelerate the land bridge project, as setting up various committees could bypass legal procedures and weaken oversight.
On 11 May, Noraset will submit questions to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, asking him to explain to the Senate the reasons behind rushing the project. He urged Phiphat to confidently present the project's benefits and investment worthiness to the Senate, emphasizing that the costs and benefits are not balanced. If the project fails, the burdens will fall on local residents affected by its consequences.