A mall that will take care of your cars, automatically

It's 'malling' alright. Even before you can explore what's on offer in the latest mall, another springs up boasting of better facilities and choices.

However, most of these malls are plagued by a common problem "� parking. Space is at a premium, one may argue, but now malls are innovating.

The Maheshwari group of companies that has the MPM mall to its credit, is mulling automated car parking and this may form part of its projects in Hyderabad by December-end.

The group is looking at setting up three more malls in the city in the next couple of years and the earliest among them is likely to be Bonsai "� a 60,000-square feet mall at Himayatnagar.

It is planning to install a three-level automated car parking system at the mall, which is likely to be the first in Hyderabad. Automated car parking systems have so far been installed in a very few cities in India like Mumbai, Bangalore and Jaipur.

"We are introducing puzzle parking system at the basement where we will be able to automatically arrange the cars horizontally as well as vertically in three levels," says Girish Mallpani, chief executive officer, MPM-The Mall.

"This way there will be optimal utilisation of space. We will be able to fit 250 cars at one time at Bonsai," he adds.

Due to this multi-level car parking system, the available land space, which will be around 30,000 sq ft, would accommodate an additional 100 cars.

While in normal parking, only 150 cars can be accommodated in this space. And since it is automated, one has to just enter the car details in a computer through which he gets an identification number. The car then gets parked with the help of a hydraulic lift system. The identification number is later used to retrieve the car.

The group is also looking at introducing a tower-parking system at its existing MPM Mall to increase its parking capacity. In this system (also automated), two towers will be set up parallel to each other.

A lift will be operational between the two towers that will carry the car up and bring it down and park it at an available space. At present, MPM can accommodate 150 cars at a time and with this system, it is slated to add space for another 100 cars.

Such systems are beneficial not only for the developers in terms of creation of additional space but also for visitors in terms of hassle-free parking. This additional service is, however, sure to come at a cost.

Mallpani is, at present, in talks with a few companies in this regard, and so did not divulge the exact amount required to set up and operate such parking systems.

He, however, adds that each system is likely to cost at least Rs 3 crore. And this might mean higher parking charges for the users, admits Malpani. But then, it's a small price for the comfort of smooth entry, easy parking and cool exit.