The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has scheduled a subcommittee meeting this Friday to evaluate three aspects of the 'Land Bridge' project. The report is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister by August 2026, alongside hearing local opinions regarding the SEC law.
On 1 July 2026, Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), revealed that on Friday, 3 July, a subcommittee meeting has been arranged to consider strategies for advancing the Land Bridge project. The meeting will gather comprehensive input from private sector experts, academics, and maritime specialists before compiling a summary report to be presented to the Prime Minister by August 2026.
Regarding the evaluation of the megaproject's feasibility, the subcommittee will focus on three key dimensions: commercial aspects assessing the reasonableness of the volume of goods expected to use the service; transport aspects analyzing the competitiveness in transshipment against established major regional ports to attract shipping lines; and operational aspects evaluating costs, timeframes, and efficiency in cross-shore cargo handling.
Danucha emphasized that this large-scale project demands considerable time and meticulous care, from the assessment phase through to issuing the Request for Proposal (RFP) to private investors. Addressing public concerns about the draft Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) Act, the committee will assess whether new legislation is necessary, given that existing laws might be adapted instead. This aligns with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Pipat Ratchakitprakarn’s position not to proceed with the original SEC bill, which is expected to simplify the process. The government clearly states it will prioritize listening to local communities and ensure industrial development is locally accepted for sustainability.