TRAT: The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) has outlined compensation criteria for landowners affected by the proposed Koh Chang bridge as residents raised concerns that payments may not be sufficient to help them relocate, despite broad support for the project.
The project timeline remains unchanged, with cabinet approval targeted for 2029, construction due to begin in 2031 and the bridge expected to open in 2035.
Exat recently presented progress on the Koh Chang Expressway Link Project during the second small-group public hearing in Klong Yai subdistrict, Laem Ngop district.
Findings from engineering, economic, financial and environmental studies will be incorporated into a larger public consultation scheduled for September.
Kritsada Jantharasena, director of Exat's Environmental Management Division, said the bridge would eliminate long ferry queues, shorten travel times and improve access to healthcare, schools and government services for residents of Koh Chang island and the mainland.
Mr Kritsada said land acquisition would comply with the Expropriation of Immovable Property Act of 2019.
Exat estimates 66 landowners will be affected, 23 on Koh Chang and 43 in Laem Ngop, with preliminary acquisition costs exceeding one billion baht.
Compensation will be determined by a committee comprising representatives from Exat, the Treasury Department, the Land Department, district authorities and local communities, using market prices as the primary benchmark.
Landowners who transfer their land within about 120 days will receive an additional 2% of the assessed land value.
Owners of houses built on land without ownership rights, including over-water homes, will not be compensated for the land but may receive compensation for the structures if they can prove ownership.
Following public consultations, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report will be prepared and reviewed before being submitted through the Ministry of Transport for cabinet approval in 2029.
Exat is planning to test private-sector interest through a market-sounding exercise in October and Novem- ber.
Toll rates are expected to be comparable to current ferry fares to keep the bridge affordable while ensuring financial viability.
A 62-year-old resident whose land will be partly acquired said residents generally support the long-awaited bridge despite concerns over expropriation.
He said some owners would lose only a small portion of their land, while others could be left with plots too small for practical use.
"The key issue is how the land is valued," he said.
"Many people are worried the compensation may not be enough for them to buy new land and start over," he added.
