The Kerala cabinet Wednesday finally cleared the Vizhinjam project that will give India its first international port, 20 km from this state capital.

"The project would come up under the BOT (build-operate-transport) scheme in three stages," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters here.

"We had received 22 bids and selected two. These would now be evaluated by a committee headed by state chief secretary," he said after the cabinet meeting.

The Kerala government has already created a special-purpose company to set the ball rolling.

The biggest advantage the Vizhinjam port would have over all other ports in the country is it will need no dredging at all.

The natural depth at Vizhinjam is 24 metres, which is by far the best in the world.

The depths at ports in New York, Southampton, Singapore, Dubai, Colombo or Hong Kong are roughly 15 metres and requires dredging.

Another advantage for Vizhinjam is that business is assured, as the proposed port lies very close to international waters, already a busy route.

The port, to be built over an area of 150 acres, would not need displacement of the local fishing population.

The first phase of the project is likely to cost Rs.15 billion.

"We are also approaching the centre for support for this path-breaking project," added Chandy.

When completed this would become the gateway port of the country.

As of now the really large international ships do not berth in any Indian port because of problems of depth as well as infrastructure.

They berth in Colombo, Singapore or Dubai, from where cargo is transferred to smaller ships that bring them into the country.

When Vizhinjam is ready, such trans-shipments would no longer be necessary.