What is the story about?
Okay, think about it. You are driving through a busy Indian city but you never have to stop at a red light. There are no waiting signals, no extra honking
- just smooth movement. That is what it is to live in one of Rajasthan's small cities called Kota. It has now been officially recognized as India's first traffic-light-free city. Located on the banks of Chambal River, Kota is also knows as India's coaching capital. Every year, lakhs of students come here to prepare for competitive exams like IIT-JEE and NEET. With such a massive population, one can easily expect traffic chaos. Instead, the city follows a very different model of traffic management. Also Read: This Is The Only Place In India Where Snowy Mountains And Desert Sit Side By Side
How Does Kota Really Manage Without Traffic Lights?
The absence of traffic signals in Kota is not something accidental - it is a deliberate, long-standing civic design choice. Instead of signal-controlled intersections, the city is heavily dependent on roundabouts, flyovers and very wide arterial roads. These structures, in fact, allow traffic to flow continuously rather than stopping vehicles at regular intervals.At major crossings, traffic police are deployed during peak hours to manage the flow manually. However, even without active policing, drivers can easily navigate these routes.
Choosing Infrastructure Over Signals
Kota's road planning highly focuses on eliminating the choke points rather than controlling them with red and green lights. Over the years, the city has invested in:- Multiple flyovers at peak-traffic areas
- Broad roads
- Service lanes
These key points reduce the need for vehicles to stop abruptly, which also helps in minimizing congestion. The system works so well because Kota does not have the dense, commercial traffic pressure which is seen in other metros like Delhi and Mumbai.
Also Read: THIS Is The Only Place In South India Where It Snows!
On the other hand, Kota is also a place where road discipline is better than other cities. Drivers are highly accustomed to navigating roundabouts - encourages alertness. Yes, honking exists but the aggressive road behaviour is noticeably lower compared to cities with heavy signals.
