The Early Days

Foundation and Early Vision

NTPC, founded in 1975, focused on building a strong foundation and infrastructure for thermal power generation to become India’s leading power utility.

1975

Incorporated on November 7.

1976

Shri D.V Kapur took over on March 19 as the first Chairman & Managing Director of NTPC. On December 8, the Government of India cleared NTPC’s first pithead Super thermal power project at Singrauli in Uttar Pradesh. The authorised share capital of the company was RS.125 crore.

1977

NTPC acquired the first patch of land at Singrauli in September. The first batch of executive trainees joined in the Company. The first Major contract of Rs.57.5 million was awarded for site leaving work at Singrauli in June.

1978

NTPC-Korba and NTPC-Ramagundam projects cleared by GoI in January and February, respectively. Hon. Prime Minister Shri Morarji Desai laid the Foundation Stone for NTPC Ramagundam on 14 November.

1979

Government of India approved the implementation of Farakka Project in March. The authorised share capital of the company rose from Rs.125 crore to Rs 300 crore.

1980

Former Soviet Union offered to assist in seeting up of power stations. Vidhayachal was identified as the first project for such assistance. The authorized share capital was raised from Rs.300 crore to Rs800 crore in June.

1981

On 29 December, Hon. Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi, laid the Foundation Stone of NTPC-Farakka.

1982

On 12 November, Hon. Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi laid the Foundation Stone of NTPC-Vindhyachal. Shri AK Sah, CMD, NTPC, was also present.

1983

NTPC-Ramagundam became operational on 26 November by commissioning its frst 200 MW Unit.

1984

The transmission line based on HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) technology, commission for power transmission from Rihand to Delhi. Singrauli project received a World Bank loan USD 150 million through the Government of India.

1985

In December, GoI approved the setting up of 3 gas-based combined-cycle projects by NTPC at Kawas (Gujarat), Auraiya (Uttar Pradesh) and Anta (Rajasthan). For these projects, the World Bank agreed to provide US$485 million, which was the largest single loan in the history of the bank.