Here's how it works: Multi-level car parking with turntables at Nampally metro

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metro’s fully automated and computerised Multi Level Car Parking (MLP) works are nearing completion and HMRL MD NVS Reddy inspected the works on Sunday. Being developed as a PPP project, this 15 floor MLP complex near Nampally Metro Station is the first of its kind in India with German Palis parking system.

The MD advised the developers of the MLP Dr Hari Kishen Reddy, a technocrat entrepreneur, and Bhavana Reddy to complete the finishing works early and start the trial runs by next month.

Space for commercial outlets

Built on half-an-acre land of HMRL, the complex has 10 parking floors and five commercial floors.

Out of the total built-up area of about 1,44,400 sft, 68 per cent is kept for parking of about 250 four wheelers and 200 two-wheelers. The remaining 32 per cent is used as commercial space for shops and a film theatre with two screens.

Bhari Infra Pvt Ltd has developed the ultra modern MLP complex at a cost of about Rs 80 crores with a concession period of 50 years. The project suffered delays due to Covid impact, debt financing problems, global supply chain disruptions etc. “All the imported materials have now arrived and are being fixed as a jigsaw puzzle by experts,” stated Mr NVS Reddy.

How does the multi-level car parking with turntables work?

- The MLP complex uses state of the art automated parking technology.

- On the ground floor, there are four ‘In or Out’ (I/O) terminals fitted with turn tables. The driver of a vehicle can simply leave the car on the turn table of the designated I/O Terminal.

- As a vehicle is entering the MLP, the user/driver will be given a smart card, while regular users will be issued permanent RFID cards.

- The user/driver will be guided to the assigned I/O terminal and by swiping the smart card in the card reader, the gate of the I/O terminal opens and the user can conveniently leave the car on the turn table.

- For retrieving the parked vehicle, the driver pays the parking fee and shows the parking ticket to the card reader, after which a transporter-shuttle brings the car back automatically.

- The vehicle is always delivered in such a way that no reversal is required for driving out.

- The time taken for parking is less than a minute and retrieval will take just two minutes.

Automatic classification of type of car

The MD said that the turntable is big enough for any vehicle to be conveniently left on it, unlike the existing few other automated parking complexes in Delhi, Mumbai etc., where the driver has to struggle to keep the vehicle on the limited designated space of the turntables. Based on the dimensions of the vehicle, the computerised parking system will automatically classify the vehicle either as an SUV or a Sedan and a transporter-shuttle will take the vehicle through a lift to the allocated spot on the designated floor and park it there.