Hundreds of govt vehicles set to worsen traffic scenario
Monthly duty roster for ministers & Admn Secys on anvil
JAMMU Tawi, Oct 17: The government offices falling under the Darbar Move—most notably Lok Bhavan, the Chief Minister’s Office, the Civil Secretariat, and Police Headquarters—will reopen in Jammu, the winter capital of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), from November 2nd which will bring the VIP culture to Jammu.
The tradition of the biannual Darbar Move, which was started around 1872 during the reign of Dogra ruler Maharaja Gulab Singh, was halted for a few years following the abrogation of Article 370.
However, the Omar Abdullah-led government has now restored this bi-annual tradition as the National Conference (NC) promised in its manifesto.
Following the shift of offices from Srinagar to Jammu, all Darbar Move offices in Jammu will function starting November 2. Along with this, VIP culture will also return to Jammu, and the presence of government vehicles on the roads will rise significantly thus adding to the traffic mess already there across the city of temples.
According to official sources, after the Lieutenant Governor (LG), the Chief Minister, administrative secretaries, and senior officers including the Director General of Police (DGP) take charge in Jammu, convoys carrying employees, government records, and essential equipment will depart from Srinagar for Jammu on October 31 and November 1st.
Directives have been issued by the Chief Minister’s Office to ensure a smooth, secure, and well-coordinated relocation process.
To prevent any inconvenience to employees along the route, special attention is being given to healthcare services, transport, and other necessary amenities.
During the Darbar Move, government work in Srinagar will not come to a complete halt. The Chief Minister has directed the General Administration Department (GAD) to issue a monthly duty roster for ministers and administrative secretaries remaining stationed in Srinagar from November 2.
This arrangement aims to ensure public grievances are addressed and administrative work continues uninterrupted in Kashmir so that citizens do not face difficulties accessing government services.
It is noteworthy that in 2021, the Darbar Move tradition was stopped by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration.
Following the assembly elections, the Darbar Move practice was restarted in 2025. Preparations for the Darbar Move are currently underway in full swing in Jammu, with final-stage renovation work progressing at the Civil Secretariat, Lok Bhavan, and the Chief Minister’s official residence.