Several city roads in Sambalpur, relaid ahead of the Sital Sasthi festival, have developed cracks, caved in or lost their bitumen layer after heavy rain, raising concerns about construction quality and restoration work. The damage affects stretches maintained by the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC), the Works department and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Residents reported widespread failures within weeks of relaying. One of the worst hit stretches runs from the old SMC office through Dalaipada to Nandapada, a road that was repaired before last year’s Sital Sasthi yatra and then dug up again for underground sewerage pipeline work. Fresh bitumen was laid ahead of this year’s festival but the surface has suffered extensive damage. Near the Jagannath temple at Dalaipada a portion of the road has sunk by nearly a foot and long cracks have emerged at several locations. Similar deterioration has been reported on Gaiety Talkies Road, Modipada to Farm Road and Budharaja, while newly repaired stretches on Thakurpada Road have developed potholes and damaged patches. The newly constructed service road between Khajriapada and Bareipali, built as part of the Ainthapali flyover project, has been damaged by rain. A portion of the service road near Panchgocchia chowk was washed away, leaving large craters. Residents blamed substandard construction after sewerage pipeline excavation and alleged trenches were filled and roads relaid without proper soil compaction, causing cave ins during rainfall. About 93 km of pipelines have reportedly been laid while nearly 750 km of the network remain to be executed within the SMC area. The district collector has directed the departments concerned to submit a detailed assessment report by July nine. The consolidated findings will be used to seek state government financial assistance for restoration and repair. Vineet Lakra, executive engineer of the Works department, said the department will inspect sections where bitumen has washed away and carry out necessary repairs. He said that a timeline for remedial work will be prepared after the assessment.