"There is a huge shortage of helicopter pilots in India. We have started a dialogue for setting up a training school for such pilots. In the next few days we would be looking at concretising the plans," French Minister of State for Transport Dominique Bussereau, who is on a two-day visit to India, told reporters here.

Bussereau said he has spoken to Civil Aviation Minister Paful Patel in this regard.

He also said that French power equipment maker Alstom would bid for the 1,000 electrical locomotives required by India. If the company wins the bid, the locomotives would be manufactured in India.

French Railways also renewed an agreement with Indian Railways today for technical cooperation in the areas of safety, maintenance and upgradation of tracks and structures, signaling, telecommunications, power supply, electric and diesel traction stock, information technology, training and high speed rail projects.

The agreement was first signed between the two parties in 2004 in Paris.

France is also looking at partnering India in the field of airport modernisation and port development.

"We can help India with our technical expertise in infrastructure areas and provide training, especially to the Railways," Bussereau said.