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Parking payment goes hi-tech, paperless

By A Sharadhaa - BANGALORE

Published: 02nd January 2013 11:04 AM

Last Updated: 02nd January 2013 11:04 AM

• This machine gives customers a coin which notes at what time the car entered the mall.

Chip coin system is the latest tool for parking operations. This technology helps save paper and time during the time of exit. The first one to introduce this system in malls is 1 MG Road.

“We have introduced chip coins that are used at metro stations. The system makes the operation very comfortable for visitors who enter the mall in large numbers” said Sumit Parthi, who heads the mall at MG Road.

Other malls too are eyeing this new technology as it helps get rid of paper. “Roughly 800 to 1,000 paper chits are generated on weekdays and a lot are used more during weekends. This  system has definitely been noticed by all as it is a sustainable option. We started using this technology from April and it is been quite effective in terms of speed and accuracy,” said Sumit.

“All malls have long queues waiting for their turn to pay and exit from the malls. These chip coins will be issued at the entrance which quotes the time of the day they enter. At the exit, there is a pay booth,” he explained.

He added that while a customer is leaving the mall, he has to insert the coin into the pay booth, which displays the amount to be paid. “Customer deposits the amount in the machine  that has an option of returning the change and the receipt along with coin. This process makes the time taken to exit the mall just 15 minutes. Nobody needs to wait here as everything is automatic,” he said.

Currently the system is used for only cars and they plan to follow the same for two wheelers too. Shashank, a car owner was excited to use this new system. “I am glad that we don’t have to wait in long queues at the parking lot and hoping for our turn to come soon. This should be mandatory in every mall as it makes it very easy for mall visitors,” he said.

Manoj Kumar another customer, who experienced the chip coin system for the first time said, “I really liked the pattern. I hope this can be located at convenient spots throughout the  mall which reduces peak traffic times,” he explained.

The new pay and park technology also tracks the number of coins issued at the mall. “This helps us  to have a data about the incoming visitors,” said Sumit.