Thailand scales back US$30 billion 'land bridge' on commercial viability concerns

BANGKOK: Thailand's government said on Friday (Jul 24) it will revise and scale down an ambitious US$30 billion plan to build a coast-to-coast "land bridge" after a review cast doubt on the megaproject's commercial viability.It will instead pursue the expansion of a port in southern Ranong province and related rail links, the government said in a statement.The original land bridge proposal envisioned a 1 trillion baht (US$30.45 billion) logistics corridor offering an alternative route to the congested Strait of Malacca.The proposal involved the connection of two ‌new deep-sea ports: Chumphon, on the Gulf of Thailand in the east, and Ranong, along the country's western Andaman coast. The updated review said the project could create future fiscal burdens and contingent liabilities for the go