Kota, Rajasthan, has become India’s first city to run entirely without traffic lights, a rare urban milestone that even caught business leader Anand Mahindra’s attention, who reacted by asking, “Has this been implemented throughout the city?? Very, very impressive, indeed.” In a breakthrough for urban mobility, Kota, known across India as the “coaching capital”, now manages traffic without a single signal. The transformation, led by the Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) of Kota, helps vehicles move smoothly across the city despite its dense population and heavy student rush.
How Kota removed all traffic lights
The UIT followed a long-term, design-first approach instead of relying on electronic signals. The city created a connected network of ring roads that divert vehicles away from the busiest internal stretches. This reduced congestion in the heart of Kota and allowed commuters to take outer routes for faster movement.
At major intersections, the authorities built more than two dozen flyovers and underpasses. These structures let traffic move without halts and cut down on fuel wastage, sudden braking, and intersection-related accidents.
The design that keeps Kota moving
Kota’s signal-free model works on the principle of conflict-free road design. Intersections are shaped to guide vehicles naturally in the correct direction. Flyovers and underpasses separate traffic levels, while roundabouts and one-way corridors maintain a steady flow.
Road markings and signboards have been placed clearly across the network, and during peak hours, traffic police and volunteers help pedestrians cross safely.
What Kota’s roads look like today
The city now sees a smooth movement of vehicles instead of the typical stop-and-go traffic common in Indian metros. Despite managing lakhs of residents and thousands of coaching students every day, the flow remains predictable and far less chaotic.
A new benchmark for Indian cities
Kota’s shift to a completely signal-free system shows how strategic infrastructure planning can replace traditional red lights. The city’s success offers a practical model for safer, faster, and more sustainable commuting in India.
For now, Kota stands as a rare example, a city where the traffic never stops, and where smart engineering has done the job that traffic signals once did.>
