London, Dec 4 (IANS): The British city of Leicester has got its first Indian visa centre after twenty years of campaigning, a media report said.

The visa centre, located at the Peepul Centre in Orchardson Avenue, Belgrave, was opened by Vyragyam Siddi Ramalingam, Indian Consul General in Birmingham, and Keith Vaz, Indian origin Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) from Leicester East, news portal Leicester Mercury reported Tuesday.

Keith Vaz reportedly made his own application for an Indian visa following the official opening of the centre.

He said the new Indian visa centre will save people from going to the centres in London and Birmingham for submitting their application.

"I cannot believe that after so many years of campaigning it has finally become a reality. It is a wonderful gift to Leicester," Keith Vaz was quoted as saying.

"With the Home Office biometric centre in the city centre and now a new Indian visa centre, Leicester is the hub of the East Midlands," he added.