Theft reduction: City to get first face-recognition parking system

Machine to be installed for space behind Hyperstar, Dolmen Mall.

KARACHI: The city government is set to install what is believed to be the first parking machine system that recognises the driver’s face so that someone else can’t take off with your car.

A Parking Access and Revenue Control system will be set up in the space behind Hyperstar in Dolmen Mall. The area was being used by Hyperstar but the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation pointed out that this was city land. The director of charged parking for KMC, Syed Raza Abbas Rizvi, approached Dolmen Group CEO Nadeem Riaz about the space. “He was very nice about it,” said Rizvi. “All he asked for was that we have a parking system in which their customers are treated well.” The space was providing free parking not only for Hyperstar customers but also anyone who wanted to visit the beachfront.

Rizvi did some research and found the technology that scans the number plate and driver’s face as a car enters and won’t let you exit if someone else is driving the car, as in stealing it. The staff at the exit point will be there to verify if, for example, a family switches drivers on the way out.

For his part, Dolmen’s Nadeem Riaz told The Express Tribune that they had spent Rs50 million on improving the parking space but as it was KMC land there was no problem with handing it over. “Anyone can park there but it is up to the KMC to set whatever charges it wants,” he said.

KMC will be charging its set rate of Rs20 per car and Rs5 per motorcycle for 24 hours and receipts will be issued by the machine. Rizvi explained that his staff will be operating the space. They will have four people at the entry and exit points and four inside. “You see we have a shortage of good manners,” Rizvi wryly remarked, referring to people who park inconsiderately and need to be guided by attendants so others don’t get stuck.

The machine, which is manufactured in China, costs Rs20 million, according to a representative of the company, Leapfrog Solutions, that is importing it. The company is run by Mohammad Raza, who is partly based in the UK. Leapfrog has done business with the city government before by providing it two snorkels among other equipment as it specialises in disaster management. “The machine is in customs and will take about 15 to 20 days to install,” said the representative.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2013.