NTPC Board Approves ₹20,457 Crore Investment for 1,600 MW Lara Super Thermal Power Project Stage-III in Chhattisgarh
NTPC Limited's Board of Directors, at its meeting held on July 11, 2026, approved an investment proposal of ₹20,456.70 crore for the Lara Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-III (2x800 MW), in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district.
The Stage-III expansion comprises two 800 MW supercritical coal-fired generating units, adding 1,600 MW of capacity to the existing plant. The Lara Super Thermal Power Station currently operates two 800 MW supercritical units, with Unit 1 commissioned in 2018 and Unit 2 in 2020. Once Stage-III is complete, the plant's total installed capacity will double to 3,200 MW.
The project will use supercritical technology, which NTPC said improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions compared to conventional thermal power plants. The investment forms part of NTPC's ongoing capacity addition programme aimed at meeting India's rising electricity demand, driven by economic growth, urbanisation and expanding industrial activity.
The approval follows NTPC's broader efforts to enhance operational flexibility across its thermal fleet; the company had separately invited bids in June 2026 from technology solution providers to help its sub-critical units operate efficiently at lower loads to better integrate renewable energy into the grid.