Korn expressed happiness at successfully using parliamentary mechanisms to caution the government after the Cost-Benefit Committee shelved the 'Land Bridge' project. He praised Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aekniti for his openness and urged that this be a lesson.
On 24 Jul 2026 GMT+7, Korn Chatikavanij, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, posted on Facebook after learning the Cost-Benefit Committee’s decision on the 'Land Bridge' project. Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aekniti Nitithanprapas, the committee decided to shelve the plan after determining it was not a worthwhile investment. Korn stated that despite shelving the Land Bridge, southern development must continue, following the committee’s conclusion.
"The project still carries risks and has relatively low financial feasibility, including operational and investment risks," the committee concluded. They recommended reconsidering the suitability of developing the Land Bridge before proceeding. Simply put, the plan is shelved for now.
Korn, as the one who submitted the urgent parliamentary motion for review, thanked the committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Aekniti. He said this should be a lesson for the current and past governments that promoted the project: they should carefully consider data and reasons before proposing any project, whether worth billions or trillions.
"I am glad the parliamentary mechanism played a role in cautioning and balancing the government’s ideas and proposals, and I commend the government’s openness to listen and reconsider its position," Korn said. Korn also added,
Finally, the Democrat Party emphasizes that the South still awaits suitable development that meets its needs. We have proposed a development plan called 'Southern Connect,' involving investments such as:
1. Building a motorway from Narathiwat to Bangkok,
2. A double-track railway system that is electrified, linking the country’s rail system down to Malaysia’s rail network,
3. Efficient deep-sea ports on both Thai coasts.