New Delhi: Australian Government will put in place from March 1 this year new arrangements to make it easier to apply for business or tourist visa from India.

Indians applying for a tourist or business visa would be able to lodge their applications at six visa application and collection centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, Australian High Commissioner to India Penny Wensley said.

"There has been a large increase in the number of Indians seeking to travel to Australia. We expect this trend to continue and accelerate as our bilateral relations grow in strength, scope and substance," the envoy said.

Each visa application and collection centre would provide services to clients between 09:00 and 17:00 hours (IST) Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, Australian High Commission said in a press release.

The Australian Government has concluded an agreement with TT Services to provide the new visa application and collection centres.

In the first phase, TT Services would offer visa centres in the six locations for tourist, business and transit visas.

In the second phase further offices would be opened in other regions within India, the release added.