Five academics question Thailand land bridge, warn of major failure

Five academics raised concerns over Thailand’s proposed land bridge project during a discussion at 1pm on May 7 at CU Social Innovation Hub, warning it could become a major failure. The forum examined whether the project is worth the investment, with the debate carrying clear relevance for Phuket as the South’s transport and logistics plans remain under scrutiny.

Speakers compared the risks around the land bridge to other troubled state megaprojects, citing the State Audit Office building case as a warning sign. Their remarks focused on whether the scheme’s economic case, planning and execution are strong enough to justify moving ahead.

Debate centers on value, risk and project oversight

The discussion brought together five academics to reflect on whether the land bridge would deliver sufficient returns or create outsized losses. They questioned if the project could meet its stated goals without repeating failures seen in other large public developments.

Reference to the State Audit Office building underscored fears about weak oversight and poor decision-making in high-value government projects. The comparison framed the land bridge not simply as an infrastructure proposal, but as a test of how Thailand evaluates and manages major investments.

Source: https://www.matichon.co.th/politics/news_5708582