Lucknow malls install AI-based cameras to count visitors

LUCKNOW: Artificial intelligence-based smart cameras will count and automatically show the number of visitors in real time on electronic display boards in some of the city malls when they will reopen on Monday after a gap of about 85 days.
Meanwhile, the state government asked all administrative and police authorities in every district to assess the situation and act accordingly. The instructions were given after a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Yogi Aityanath at his official residence in Lucknow.
The phase would see not only opening of religious places but also malls, restaurants, hotels and sports complex albeit under restricted conditions. In city, while a majority of restaurants have adopted the policy of wait and watch, many religious places are opening on Monday or Tuesday.
The call of faith, however, will be different. No serpentine queues, no offerings, no bhajan-kirtan or chiming of bells, the devouts with masks strung across their face will resume the much-awaited darshan at temples after over a two-month hiatus. Similar curbs will be in place at gurudwaras, mosques and churches. In Ayodhya, Ram Lalla temple would be open for darshan after 77 days.
"Since manual head count would be difficult, we have installed AI based smart cameras at the gates to count heads of the people entering and exiting the mall at a given time and the difference of it will be displayed in real time on the electronic board," said Sumit Jalota, general manager operations of a prominent on Kanpur road.