PHUKET, THAILAND – The long-promised tunnel linking Phuket’s west coast resort of Patong with the island’s interior has been dramatically cut back, sparking political outrage and deep public concern.
Minister orders sweeping changes
Thailand’s Transport Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn announced what he described as a necessary overhaul of the long-delayed Patong Tunnel Project, scrapping the existing design entirely. The original plan envisioned a 17‑metre‑wide, four‑lane tunnel with dedicated motorcycle lanes. Under the new directive, it will shrink to just 10 metres, eliminating the toll fees once intended to fund its construction.
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), originally tasked with executing the project, has been removed. Oversight now shifts to the Department of Highways, as the minister claimed the revised structure would be cheaper and faster to deliver. The tolls — previously set at 15 baht for motorcycles and 40 baht for cars — were cancelled to keep future access free of charge.
Backlash over safety and accountability
The decision has triggered fierce opposition from local leaders. Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee condemned the move in a series of online posts, accusing the government of jeopardising public safety for political gain.
“THE PATONG TUNNEL IS A LIFE‑THREATENING EMERGENCY. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT CONVENIENCE — IT’S ABOUT HUMAN LIVES AND PHUKET’S SAFETY IMAGE,”
he wrote.
Chalermpong pointed to the Kathu–Patong Road, a steep and winding route notorious for truck accidents and landslides, as the key reason the tunnel had been pursued for more than a decade.
Infrastructure woes and recurring landslides
Recent disasters have underscored the urgency of safer infrastructure. In October last year, heavy rains wiped out a large section of the Kathu–Patong Road. Another landslide followed earlier this year, temporarily cutting the island’s main east‑west connection. These incidents strengthened calls for a direct tunnel under the Khao Nakkerd hill, initially planned as part of an 11‑billion‑baht project featuring a 3.98‑kilometre route and a 1.85‑kilometre tunnel.
Under EXAT’s original plan, construction costs were to be met through state loans or bond issues, building on several years of technical studies and safety assessments. The minister’s abrupt cancellation effectively discards that groundwork.
Land expropriation raises new questions
Adding to the controversy, authorities had already completed land expropriation for the original design, spending 5.75 billion baht earlier this year. Local officials in Patong only began clearing the area last month, leaving residents stunned that such investments might now be wasted.
The MP voiced fears that the reset could invite corruption or hidden agendas.
“ARE THERE REAL TECHNICAL REASONS, OR IS THIS JUST AN EXCUSE TO REOPEN CONTRACTS AND CREATE NEW CHANNELS FOR UNDER‑THE‑TABLE DEALS?”
he asked.
Uncertain future for Phuket’s vital link
The tunnel had been billed as the lifeline to Phuket’s tourism hub, easing traffic bottlenecks and ensuring emergency access during monsoon seasons. With the blueprint now scrapped, residents and business owners face renewed uncertainty.
Critics call the reversal a symbol of political inconsistency — a “betrayal of safety,” as one local commentator described it — while supporters of the minister argue that downsizing could finally move the scheme from study to reality.
For an island that depends on both tourism and mobility, the fate of the Patong tunnel has become more than a question of engineering. It now stands at the centre of Thailand’s wider debate over governance, transparency, and the true cost of progress.
• Original plan: 17‑metre‑wide, four‑lane tunnel costing 11 billion baht
• Revised version: 10‑metre‑wide tunnel under Department of Highways
• Tolls: Cancelled — previously 15/40 baht
• Land cost: 5.75 billion baht already spent
• Main concern: Safety on steep Kathu–Patong Road