Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed preparations for the Darbar Move 2026–27 and directed all concerned departments to ensure a smooth, secure and well-coordinated transition of government offices from Srinagar to Jammu, with the down convoy scheduled to operate on October 31 and November 1.
Chairing a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister stressed the need for adequate transport, security, medical assistance and residential accommodation for employees moving to Jammu for the winter session.
Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), M. Raju, briefed the meeting on the proposed transport and logistical arrangements for the movement of employees and official equipment.
Omar directed the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) and the Traffic Department to ensure sufficient availability of buses and coordinate the two-day convoy to facilitate safe and orderly transportation. He stressed close coordination among departments to minimise inconvenience and delays during the transition.
The Chief Minister directed the Police Department and other concerned agencies to put comprehensive security arrangements in place, particularly in residential areas where employees shifting to Jammu would stay.
Traffic management along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and arrangements for residential accommodation were also reviewed. The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, was asked to examine traffic management within the city and identify suitable locations for food and public convenience facilities along the convoy route.
The meeting was informed that medical assistance would be available throughout the journey, with doctors, paramedical staff and ambulances deployed in both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions to respond to emergencies.
Arrangements for essential services and facilities for employees travelling with the convoy were also discussed.
The Darbar Move is a distinctive administrative practice under which the Jammu and Kashmir Government shifts its principal offices between Srinagar, the summer capital, and Jammu, the winter capital, traditionally spending about six months in each city. The practice has historically involved the movement of government employees, official records and equipment between the two cities.
The General Administration Department’s official order for the 2025–26 winter session prescribed the movement of offices from Srinagar to Jammu, with the convoy operating over two days. The order also provided for buses through JKRTC, police escorts, backup buses, cranes and mobile workshops, alongside medical assistance at designated locations along the highway. These arrangements illustrate the logistical requirements associated with the exercise.
The practice was discontinued as a routine physical transfer of offices after the administration shifted to e-office arrangements, which reduced the need to transport files and records between the two capitals. The current preparations for the 2026–27 winter session mark a renewed focus on the physical movement of employees and official equipment.
The latest arrangements are aimed at ensuring that employees reach Jammu safely and that the seasonal transition of government offices takes place in an orderly manner.
