Pakistan, June 18 -- Thailand has revived plans for a $30 billion "Land Bridge" project aimed at creating a coast-to-coast logistics corridor that could offer an alternative route to the heavily used Strait of Malacca, one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints.

The proposed infrastructure scheme, backed by the Thai government, envisions connecting deep-sea ports on the country's western Andaman coast in Ranong with eastern Gulf of Thailand ports in Chumphon through a 90-kilometre overland transport system. The project would include railways, highways, and integrated logistics facilities designed to move cargo efficiently between the two coasts.

Officials say the corridor could reduce shipping times by up to two weeks for ca...