Bengaluru

For the first time in its history, Bengaluru’s Namma Metro was used to transport a live human heart between metro stations in a time-sensitive medical emergency. The transport took place on the Green Line, between Yeshwantpur and Sampige Road stations. The medical team involved paid just the regular metro fare for carrying out the organ transport.

What happened

  • A medical team was transporting a live human heart as part of an organ transplant effort.

  • The heart was carried via Namma Metro between Yeshwantpur and Sampige Road, covering multiple stations, with metro staff assisting in logistics.

  • The operation was coordinated by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). Metro guidelines were followed in terms of security and access.

    • Significance

    • This marks a rare and innovative usage of public transit infrastructure for critical medical emergencies.

  • It shows how rapid transit can play a role beyond everyday commuting, helping save lives by transporting organs swiftly through traffic-free corridors.

  • Earlier, Namma Metro had also transported a donated liver, making this heart transport the second such mission in Bengaluru.

    • Challenges & coordination

    • To successfully transport an organ via metro, the medical team worked with metro security, staff, and hospital authorities to ensure timing, handling, documentation, and passenger safety were all addressed.

  • The metro train had to be used in a way that did not disrupt regular services significantly. The team used a specific coach and coordinated entry and exit at stations.

    • Conclusion

    The use of Namma Metro to transport a live human heart is a landmark for Bengaluru, highlighting how existing public transport systems can be adapted for urgent medical needs. It could set a precedent for similar emergencies in other metro cities, especially where traffic congestion can otherwise delay life-saving organ transplants.