Kolkata, June 22 (IANS): The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, has inked a deal with defence PSU and metro car manufacturer BEML Ltd to collaborate in areas of bogie design, propulsion system controls and alternative car body material, the institute said on Monday.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Aniruddh Kumar, Director (Rail & Metro) BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Limited) and P.P.Chakrabarti, director, IIT Kharagpur on June 19 at the public sector undertaking (PSU's) Bengaluru complex.

"The proposed areas of cooperation include bogie design, three phase propulsion system controls, Electromagnetic interference (EMI) Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) studies, alternate car body material, etc.

This MoU will help in achieving self-sufficiency and reduce the dependency on imports," the statement said.The aim of the agreement is to be at the "forefront of the emerging areas of railway rolling stock, including medium speed/high speed rail car and metro projects, with indigenously developed technologies."

"This is a great opportunity for our researchers at faculty and student level," said Chakrabarti.

The institute already has a collaboration with Indian Railways for new technology development and has sponsored projects running at the Centre.