SRINAGAR: The bi-annual Darbar Move from Srinagar to Jammu begins on Saturday, with the authorities imposing a two-day restriction on the movement of heavy and medium goods vehicles along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) to facilitate the transfer of government offices and employees to the winter capital.
The restrictions will remain in force on October 31 and November 1, while the offices shifting to Jammu are scheduled to resume operations on November 2.
According to the traffic advisory, goods-carrying heavy and medium motor vehicles will not be allowed to travel from Jakheni in Udhampur towards Srinagar on either day.
Restrictions will also apply after 2 am on October 31 and November 1 to goods carriers travelling from Jakheni towards Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar, as well as those moving from Qazigund towards Banihal, Ramban and Udhampur.
However, heavy motor vehicles travelling downhill from Qazigund towards Jammu will be permitted to move under regulated conditions.
Transporters carrying fresh and perishable commodities and livestock have been advised to plan their journeys in accordance with the restrictions.
Under the Darbar Move arrangements, government offices have been divided into two categories — those relocating completely and those shifting with limited staff under the camp arrangement.
All departments of the Civil Secretariat, including the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, will move to Jammu in full. Other establishments in this category include the Personal Staff of the Advisor to the Chief Minister, Department of Civil Aviation, Civil Secretariat Dispensary, Civil Secretariat security staff and treasury.
The offices of the Financial Commissioner, Revenue; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests; Chief Electoral Officer; Director, Information; Director General, Accounts and Treasuries; Transport Commissioner; Chief Executive Officer, J&K e-Governance Agency; Mission Director, ICDS; Controller, Drug and Food Control Organisation; Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration; and J&K Employees State Insurance Society will also relocate completely, among others.
Several departments and establishments will operate from Jammu in camp mode, including the State Taxes Department, Excise Department, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Directorate of Audit and Inspection, AYUSH Directorate, Chief Architect’s office, Registrar of Cooperatives and J&K Services Selection Board.
The J&K Pollution Control Committee, public sector undertakings, J&K Housing Board, Wildlife Department, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), Fisheries Department, National Health Mission, Mission Youth, Directorate of Colleges and SCERT are also among the establishments included in the camp category.
As per the arrangements, offices shifting under the camp system will take along 33 per cent of their sanctioned staff strength or 10 employees, whichever is lower, unless a specific provision has been made otherwise.
The Government has fixed a uniform Special Move Travel Allowance of Rs 25,000 for each eligible employee relocating to Jammu. Those who fail to move within the prescribed period will not qualify for the allowance.
The Darbar Move is a nearly 150-year-old administrative practice introduced in 1872 by the Dogra rulers, under which government offices alternate between Srinagar, the summer capital, and Jammu, the winter capital.
The tradition was discontinued in June 2021 by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration as part of the transition to a paperless e-office system, with the Government citing estimated annual savings of around Rs 200 crore.
Following a multi-year suspension, the practice has been revived, with 91 government offices and establishments scheduled to shift to Jammu for the winter 2026-27 session.
