Mr Phiphat’s assurances were delivered late yesterday (Nov 5) through multiple official channels of the Phuket branch of the Public Relations Department, which released at least four separate announcements within two hours – several repeating the same text – to reinforce the message.
The statements came quickly amid mounting criticism from local leaders and business figures, including a public protest on Patong Hill, calling on the government to stop delaying the long-promised project.
Last week, Mr Phiphat ordered a major revision of the project plan, slashing the tunnel’s width from 17 metres to 10m, removing the proposed toll fee, and transferring control away from the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT). The change has raised questions about whether motorbikes will still be permitted to use the tunnel, or whether additional safety measures will be required if they are.
Despite the revision, Mr Phiphat yesterday insisted that the project remains on schedule. “I can confirm that the Phuket Tunnel will definitely be built. There will be no changes at all,” he said.
“We are only considering the details of toll collection. The likelihood is that it will not be collected, to reduce expenses and increase income for Phuket residents and tourists.”
He added that the Ministry of Transport is working closely with EXAT to ensure the project proceeds without further delay. The tunnel section of the project, he said, would likely be toll-free, while the second phase – a 30.6km elevated road from Muang Mai to Kathu – may still operate as a toll road, giving motorists the choice of routes.
The Patong Tunnel project is officially part of the ‘Phuket Expressway Project’, which is divided into two phases. Phase 1 covers the 3.98km Kathu-Patong section (including the tunnel under Patong Hill), while Phase 2 connects Muang Mai, Koh Kaew and Kathu via a continuous elevated road.
The project underwent a full feasibility study and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in 2022 during the tenure of former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, Mr Phiphat said. The aim is to ease chronic traffic congestion and reduce accidents along the main route linking Phuket International Airport with Patong, he added.
Mr Phiphat said the project is currently in the procurement phase, with bidding expected to open by 2026 and construction to begin next year.
“I want Phuket residents to be at ease. We will not slow down or stop,” he said. “We will strive to make tunnel access free of charge, ensuring convenient, safe and economical travel. This is what the government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed the Ministry of Transport to do ‒ to make travel easier and reduce congestion.”
Mr Phiphat’s renewed commitment follows weeks of public pressure for tangible progress, with Phuket’s business community and civic groups uniting to demand that the government move beyond promises, after decades of waiting, and finally deliver the long-awaited link between Kathu and Patong.