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

"We are going to sign a MoU with the IIT-K on February 13, 2010, 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-K students to carry out research activities," she said.

The minister announced two new trains for West Bengal. "Two new trains would be flagged off on February 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 a MoU with the Union Health Ministry to develop such health projects," Banerjee said. IANS