Bangkok Terminal Logistics Co., Ltd.
Progress on the Ranong-Chumphon Land Bridge project connecting two oceans
The Land Bridge project will change the current transportation route, which is a long detour through the Strait of Malacca, Singapore, to a land bridge from Ranong-Chumphon Port instead.
Land Bridge Project
One in four products in the world must travel through the Strait of Malacca, a mega project to connect the two coasts of South China and the Indian Ocean, replacing the currently congested Strait of Malacca. And when the project is successful, it will become a center for transportation, trade, and investment, not just for Thailand or the region, but it can be said to be the center of transportation, trade, and investment in the world.
For the Land Bridge project, it is a project that is in line with the plan to drive the sustainable development of the Southern Economic Corridor, invested by the government and private sector (Southern Economic Corridor: SEC) by linking transportation between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman coast, along with building a double-track railway and a motorway to connect two deep-sea ports in Ranong Province and Chumphon Port, a distance of 109 kilometers, with an investment of 45 billion baht.
From the previous year (2020 )
The government has approved a budget of over 75 million baht for the survey of the construction of deep-sea ports on both sides. In the construction of the deep-sea port, there are 2 methods of construction being considered: developing the existing port and building a new port by reclaiming the sea. The investment and impact assessment must be completed, which will be clear and concluded by 2021. Another 90 million baht will be used to survey the dual-track railway and motorway routes to connect the 2 deep-sea ports, including the connecting route to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). All of this will be concluded by 2022.
Land Bridge Project Progress: Signing a contract to hire a consultant to study details and conduct an EIA.
Mr. Saksayam Chidchob, Minister of Transport, has ordered the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to proceed with the Land Bridge project. Mr. Saksayam has signed a contract to hire consultants to study the details of the design, environmental impact assessment, investment development model, and infrastructure development to develop the Southern Economic Corridor.
The current Malacca Strait shipping is experiencing high congestion and will reach its full capacity in 2024 and will quadruple in congestion by 2050.
If the project is completed, the land bridge will change the current transportation route, which is a long detour through the Strait of Malacca in Singapore, to a land bridge from Ranong Port to Chumphon Port instead, which will reduce transportation time by up to 2 days.
Land Bridge Thailand Project Study Details
Three main parts of the study were combined into one project:
- By boat (Chumphon Port / Current Ranong Port / New Ranong Port / Ranong Canal)
- By road (Ranong-Chumphon Motorway)
- Railway (new railway line Ranong-Chumphon)
- Pipeline (Oil pipeline connecting Ranong-Chumphon)
In terms of port design, it will be in the form of a Smart Port, controlled by an automation system, including the development of a motorway, dual-track railway, and pipeline transportation system, all built simultaneously with an investment of approximately 100 billion baht for the entire project. This investment will have a positive effect on the Thai economy in the long run.
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