The following article from Sambada suggests connecting Bimlagarh with Nayagarh (near Keonjhar) for a shorter Bhubaneswar-Rourkela route. It talks about the delay in constructing the Talcher – Bimlagarh line and proposes this alternative.

If Bimlagarh is connected to Nayagarh then the route between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela will consist of the following segments: Bhubaneswar – Jakhapura (92kms), Jakhapura – Tomka (24kms), Tomka – Nayagarh (130kms), Nayagarh – Bimlagarh (30?kms), Bimlagarh – Bondamunda HLT (46.5kms), Bondamunda HLT – Rourkela Jn (12 kms).