"This is the first supercritical thermal power station to be established in Tamil Nadu," an official release said.
She laid the foundation stone for station through a video conference facility, it said.
Jayalalithaa had announced in the assembly last year that a supercritical power station would be set up that would consume less coal for generating more power.
At a function held at the secretariat today, Jayalalithaa presented the work order to the Lanco Infra Tech Executive Chairman L Madhusudhan Rao, it said.