Pattani Port Infrastructure Issues Spark Calls for Increased Funding
Opposition MP Chaiwut has urged the government to increase the budget for dredging the Pattani port channel, citing that the current 80 million baht allocation is insufficient to make the facility operational.
According to a report by Matichon Online, opposition Member of Parliament Chaiwut has publicly criticized the current state of the Pattani port. Despite the completion of the port's construction, the facility remains largely unusable due to the shallow depth of the surrounding water channel. Chaiwut argues that the government's allocated budget of 80 million baht for dredging operations is inadequate to address the sedimentation issues effectively. He has called upon the government and Minister Phiphat to increase funding to ensure the port can finally serve its intended purpose for local maritime traffic. For residents and those involved in local logistics, this situation highlights a significant infrastructure bottleneck that hinders regional economic activity. While the port is physically built, the lack of a navigable channel prevents it from functioning as a viable transport hub. It remains to be confirmed how the government will respond to these demands for additional budget and whether a revised dredging plan will be implemented to resolve the accessibility issues. Travelers in the region should note that while this is primarily a logistical and political matter, it underscores ongoing challenges in regional infrastructure development.
