Vijayawada: The police of Vijayawada and Mangalagiri won thousands of hearts on Friday as they ensured safe and rapid transport of a heart and lungs harvested from a brain-dead patient in NRI Academy of Medical Sciences in Mangalagiri.

Mangalagiri division police, led by DSP Rama Krishna, and Vijayawada traffic police, led by ADCP (Traffic) T. Nagaraju, ensured that the 33-kilometre stretch of national highway between NRI Hospital in Mangalagiri to Vijayawada Airport in Gannavaram turned a “green corridor” for the ambulance to reach airport in minimum time.

A special aircraft was kept ready at the Vijayawada airport to take off for Chennai in the evening.

Police facilitated the green corridor by blocking all traffic. Vehicles on the highway were diverted to other roads and as many as 18 junctions were blocked to avoid entry of traffic on the highway.

The ambulance carrying the heart and lungs was accompanied by 12 police and other vehicles. The convoy started from NRI hospital at 5.10 pm and reached the airport by 5.31 pm via MG Road in the city. The organs were airlifted to Chennai Airport soon after.

“Though people faced little inconvenience, we were able to help save a life. It took 21 minutes for the ambulance to reach the airport from the hospital,” said ADCP T. Nagaraju.

As many as two ACPs, two inspectors, six sub-inspectors and other policemen oversaw the green corridor and ensured rapid transportation. The vehicle reached destination two minutes before the expected time, police say.

Meanwhile commuters extended their cooperation by waiting patiently until the convoy passed.