Bengaluru: In a historic and heart-stirring first for Karnataka, a life-saving liver was transported via Namma Metro from Whitefield to SPARSH Hospital in RR Nagar — covering over 31 kilometers and more than 30 Metro stations in just 55 minutes. This unprecedented act of coordination and compassion gave a second chance at life to a young patient suffering from liver failure.
The donated liver — retrieved from a 24-year-old accident victim whose family made the courageous decision to donate his organs — was urgently needed by a critical patient at SPARSH Hospital, RR Nagar. The recipient, a young male suffering from severe hepatitis-related liver failure, had been on the transplant waiting list for over two months, desperately hoping for a suitable match. To reach from a private hospital to 5.5 KM road distance to Whitefield (Kodugodi) Metro Station, a green corridor was also created and again for 2.5 KM distance from RR Nagar to SPARSH Hospital, a green corridor was created.
Realizing that Bengaluru’s infamous evening traffic could delay the organ transport — potentially compromising its viability — the team at SPARSH Hospital sought an alternative that had never been attempted in the state: using the Metro as a Green Corridor.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) immediately responded with extraordinary support. A dedicated last coach was allocated on a regular service train from Whitefield Metro Station to RR Nagar, with complete security escort and logistical coordination. The organ-carrying team covered the entire 31-kilometer journey in less than an hour — a trip that could have taken over three hours by road on a congested Friday evening.
“Time was of the essence. If we had taken the road, the organ could’ve been wasted due to heavy weekend traffic. The Metro gave us the fastest and safest option. We are deeply grateful to the BMRCL and SOTTO Karnataka for their swift and wholehearted support,” said Dr. Mahesh Gopasetty, HOD & Senior Consultant – Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery at SPARSH RR Nagar.
The complex transplant surgery, conducted overnight, concluded successfully around 3:00 AM. The patient is currently in the ICU, stable and under post-operative care.
The effort was made possible with meticulous collaboration between SPARSH Hospital, SOTTO Karnataka (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization), and Metro officials, including Mr. Sumit Bhatnagar, Director, Mr. Salvam, Chief Security Officer, and Mr. Ranappa, Operations Head of BMRCL — all of whom enabled the seamless execution of this lifesaving mission.
Entire Purple line security staff were alerted in time; the last compartment of the metro was not allowed for passengers dedicated to Sparsh team. Even the Elevator and lift was kept free for the quick and uninterrupted (by normal passengers) movement of the organ. Namma Metro did its very first organ transport and Chief Security Officer Mr. Selvam himself coordinated the entire operation by accompanying with the team from White field Metro to RR Nagar SPARSH Hospital.
“This case is more than a first-in-state feat. A city’s Metro system became an emergency lifeline and a hospital turned urgency into precision and purpose. This achievement showed SPARSH’s expertise in organ transplants and its seamless coordination with SOTTO Karnataka and local authorities to bridge the gap between organ donors and recipients,” said Col. Rahul Tewari, Cluster COO, Sparsh Hospitals.
“The case like this — of a liver and a life riding the Metro — remind us of what’s possible when medical science, civic systems, and human kindness converge. This is not just a medical success; it’s a movement — one of compassion, coordination, and the silent but powerful revolution of organ donation,” added Dr. Gopasetty.
Organ donation continues to remain critically underreported and misunderstood. Experts and healthcare leaders stress on creating awareness on Organ Donations and highlight its importance in saving lives.
