Kolkata, Feb 10

Indian Railways will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kharagpur to promote research and development in the organisation, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said here Wednesday.

"We are going sign a MoU with The IIT-Kharagpur Feb 13 to promote research and development activities for the railways," Banerjee said after inaugurating a computerised reservation counter in southern part of Kolkata.

"We may float scholarships for IIT-Kharagpur students to carry out research activities," she said.

The minister announced two new trains for West Bengal. "Two new trains would be flagged off Feb 13. One from Jhargram-Purulia and another Medinipur-Jhargram."

She said the railways would also provide its land for setting up 372 diagnostic centres, 44 first-class hospitals and 88 second-class hospitals across the country.

"We'll provide land and the union health ministry will develop the medical infrastructure on those lands. We have already signed an MoU with the union health ministry to develop such health projects," Banerjee said.