Delhi Traffic Police green corridor moves liver patient 20 km to IGI Airport in 22 minutes
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Delhi Traffic Police created a Green Corridor on Tuesday evening to transport a liver transplant patient, identified as Chauhan, from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in time for a critical flight to Hyderabad. The nearly 20 km stretch was covered in just 20 to 22 minutes despite heavy peak-hour traffic — a feat that the patient's family credited with making the life-saving surgery possible.
How the Operation Was Executed
The alert reached traffic authorities at around 4:30 pm, after which personnel from the Traffic Circle Karol Bagh mobilised immediately. Head Constable Sunny contacted liaison officer Tarun and set up a dedicated WhatsApp group to enable real-time coordination among all officials involved.
Head Constables Hemraj and Sukhvinder escorted the ambulance on motorcycles, clearing the route ahead to ensure uninterrupted movement. HC Mahender Singh managed traffic regulation along the designated corridor, while Constables Pradeep Nain and Pankaj monitored live traffic conditions and coordinated with multiple traffic circles to pre-empt congestion.
The Challenge: Rush-Hour Delhi Traffic
Tuesday evening traffic in New Delhi is among the most congested in the country, with the stretch between Karol Bagh and IGI Airport's Terminal 4 routinely clogged during peak hours. That the ambulance cleared it in under 23 minutes underscores the precision of the multi-unit coordination. The patient reached the airport with enough time to board the Hyderabad-bound flight, where the liver transplant surgery was scheduled.
Family's Response
The patient's family expressed deep gratitude to the Delhi Traffic Police, stating that the force's prompt intervention was crucial in facilitating the medical journey. Their acknowledgement highlights the human stakes behind what is otherwise a logistical operation.
A Pattern of Life-Saving Corridors
This is not the first time Delhi Traffic Police has deployed a Green Corridor under pressure. Months earlier, the force cleared a rapid corridor during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match, enabling the transfer of injured Delhi Capitals cricketer Lungi Ngidi from Arun Jaitley Stadium to a hospital in just 11 minutes. The back-to-back successes suggest the force has institutionalised the Green Corridor protocol rather than treating it as an ad hoc response. With Delhi's road density and traffic volumes continuing to rise, the scalability of this model will be watched closely.