Narla Tata Rao (4 September 1917 – 7 April 2007) was a prominent person in the power sector of India and a former chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board.

Personal

Tata Rao was born on 4 September 1917 in Kavutaram near Gudlavalleru, in Krishna district. After early education in Andhra, he graduated in engineering from Banaras Hindu University in 1941 and obtained an MS in power systems engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL. Tata Rao built the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board from scratch in 1958. The late K.L. Rao appointed him as Member (Thermal) of the Central Water and Power Commission (CWPC) in 1972. However, Jalagam Vengala Rao spared no efforts to get Tata Rao to the state in August 1974. Tata Rao became synonymous with the energy sector in Andhra Pradesh. He increased the installed capacity of the state grid five-fold by conceiving giant generation projects like Vijayawada Thermal Station, Nagarjunasagar, Srisailam and Lower Sileru. He formed a strong base for the state's electricity sector, which is now considered one of the best in the country. He won several awards at national and international levels, including the Padma Shri (1983). Former positions:

Awards and honours