Calcutta, Jan 22: FreightCar America and Titagarh Wagons today signed an agreement to develop wagons for India.

“The joint venture will manufacture aluminium wagons, particularly for coal,” chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said after the deal was inked at Writers’ Buildings.

Its Rs 150-crore plant will be set up on 118 acres near Kalyani Expressway by 2009.

“Coal constitutes almost 45 per cent of the total freight carried by Indian Railways and the Centre’s proposed freight corridor will generate need for good wagons,” the chief minister said.

FreightCar, which is headquartered in Chicago, will provide design and technology for the wagons.