The mirrors are constructed from premium imported fiber
Authorities plan to extend this safety initiative
Convex mirrors have been introduced in North Bengal’s Naogaon district, marking a novel approach to enhance road safety at perilous bends.
The local community in Naogaon is optimistic that this innovation will extend to other district roads, promoting safer highways and regional routes.
According to sources at the Naogaon Road Department, an initial experiment saw the installation of 20 high-quality convex mirrors across a 54 km stretch of the Manda-Niyamatpur-Shibpur-Porsha highway.
These mirrors are constructed from premium imported fiber and aim to address safety concerns on a 25 km section notorious for dangerous curves.
With these mirrors, drivers and pedestrians approaching these critical 90-degree bends can now observe oncoming traffic from both sides, ensuring secure navigation.
Individuals are now safely maneuvering these bends with confidence, eradicating the previous risk of head-on collisions during both day and night.
The Naogaon Road Division plans to extend this safety initiative to other high-risk bends on highways across the district.
Akkas Hossain, a resident of Niamatpur upazila, shared his experience, emphasizing the hazardous nature of the Niamatpur-Shibpur road due to its sharp bends. He noted the significant improvement since the installation of these mirrors, with accidents reduced substantially.
CNG driver Rubel, hailing from Sapahar Upazila, also applauded the initiative.
He explained how the mirrors enable drivers to anticipate oncoming vehicles, ensuring safer passage through the bends. This measure has notably decreased accident rates on these treacherous stretches.
Naogaon Road Division Executive Engineer Rashedul Haque Russell said: “The experimental effort aims to fulfill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s vision of constructing durable and secure roads. The high-quality fiber mirrors, thoughtfully installed at accident-prone bends on the Manda-Niyamatpur-Shivapur-Porsha highway, are designed to endure sun exposure and prevent cracks.”
He said with the community’s cooperation in maintaining these mirrors, the mirrors are poised to enhance road safety for years to come.
The Road Division is committed to extending this road mirror initiative to other hazardous bends on highways across the district in a phased manner, he added.
Source: Dhaka Tribune.