Jammu prepares to host government offices for the winter session as 91 departments shift from Srinagar under the 150-year-old Darbar Move tradition

JAMMU: The bi-annual Darbar Move of Jammu & Kashmir govt from Srinagar to Jammu began Saturday, with 91 offices scheduled to shift operations to the winter capital ahead of their reopening on Nov 2.“Offices closed in Srinagar today and will reopen in Jammu on Nov 2,” officials said.The annual tradition that dates back 150 years was stopped by L-G Manoj Sinha’s administration in June 2021, citing high financial costs and shift towards e-offices and paperless administration. CM Omar Abdullah restored it after taking office in 2024, as had been promised in National Conference’s election manifesto, and the practice resumed in Nov 2025.

Ahead of offices reopening, Jammu is undergoing its customary makeover, with traffic department installing new road dividers and regulating vehicular movement.In view of convoy movement, authorities restricted heavy and medium motor vehicles carrying goods on NH-44 on Saturday-Sunday. The advisory asked transporters carrying fresh and perishable goods and livestock to plan their movement accordingly.