A previous authority expansion proposal would have increased handling at Bangkok Port by 500,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units, taking capacity to 1.5 million units a year.

The authority said it had unused land available for the expansion, which would cut costs for freight companies.

But Theera said the Cabinet wanted to control the flow of goods at the port to not more than one million units and encourage companies to use Laem Chabang Port so it could reach capacity. The government will improve rail links with Laem Chabang to make it the top port in the country and reduce freight costs.

"If we let Bangkok Port expand, not only will Laem Chabang miss its target of becoming a marine-transport hub, it will increase congestion and traffic jams," Theera said.

Currently Bangkok Port is shifting 1.45 million units.

Theera said the authority would have to find ways to reduce that to one million units and enhance utilisation at Laem Chabang. If not, it will need to provide good reasons for the ministry to explain its failure to the Cabinet.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation