Indian Railways has successfully transported a live donor heart by train for the first time in the country’s history, marking a significant milestone in emergency medical logistics and showcasing the potential of the rail network in supporting life-saving healthcare services.
The donor heart was transported from Surat to Ahmedabad aboard Train No. 20901 Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express, enabling its timely delivery for transplantation at the U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology & Research Centre in Ahmedabad.
The operation required meticulous planning and close coordination among Indian Railways, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Gujarat Police and medical teams to ensure that the organ reached the recipient hospital within the critical viability window required for a successful transplant.
To facilitate the mission, authorities created a dedicated Green Corridor from Platform No. 1 of Ahmedabad Railway Station to the U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology & Research Centre. The corridor, jointly managed by the RPF and Gujarat Police, ensured uninterrupted movement of the donor heart, allowing the transplant procedure to begin without delay.
The successful operation highlighted the speed, punctuality and reliability of the Vande Bharat Express, while demonstrating the expanding role of Indian Railways beyond passenger and freight transportation into critical healthcare support.
Ahmedabad Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash described the achievement as a proud moment for Indian Railways, saying the mission reflected the organisation’s commitment to serving society through life-saving initiatives.
“In such missions, every minute is crucial. The excellent coordination among Indian Railways, RPF, Gujarat State Police and the medical teams ensured the success of this operation. Contributing towards saving a human life is not only our responsibility but also our highest duty towards service and humanity,” he said.
Railway officials said the successful transportation demonstrates how modern railway infrastructure can play an important role in strengthening India’s emergency healthcare ecosystem by providing fast, reliable and time-critical connectivity.
Indian Railways also acknowledged the contributions of the Railway Protection Force, Gujarat Police, doctors, organ transplant coordinators and railway personnel whose coordinated efforts ensured the success of the country’s first live donor heart transportation by train.
The achievement is expected to pave the way for greater use of India’s rail network in facilitating emergency medical transportation and other humanitarian operations requiring rapid and dependable connectivity.
