Darbar Move: Jammu & Kashmir government office to reopen in Srinagar on May 5

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to start functioning from here on Tuesday for the next six months after shifting from winter capital Jammu as part of the pre-independence biannual 'Darbar Move' practice.

The Raj Bhavan, Civil Secretariat and other offices closed in Jammu on April 24 and are scheduled to re-open here on Tuesday as per the 'Darbar Move' - a century-old practice under which the government functions six months each in the two capitals.

As part of the practice, the government functions in the summer capital till late October and then moves to Jammu in the first week of November.

Authorities have made all necessary arrangements, including security, to ensure smooth functioning of the offices in the Kashmir Valley.

Security agencies in the Valley have made arrangements for re-opening of Civil Secretariat and other Darbar Move offices in the summer capital.

"All necessary steps have been taken to ensure the security of Civil Secretariat and other Darbar Move offices. We have discussed measures relating to security, traffic and deployment of personnel by different wings of Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security forces with regard to the Darbar Move," a security official said.

He said law and order situation in the Valley is fully under control and police and other security agencies have taken all measures to ensure that peaceful atmosphere prevails.

The summer capital has been given a face lift ahead of the re-opening of the 'move offices'.

The roads around and leading to the Civil Secretariat are being renovated with labourers busy cleaning the pathways and painting the roadsides.

"We have spent around Rs 70-80 lakh for the renovation and painting of roads. It is an old practice which happens annually," Chief Engineer Roads and Buildings Satish Razdan told PTI.

Every year, the city gets a face-lift on the eve of re-opening of Civil Secretariat and other move offices. Besides, the government offices and quarters have been renovated and the street lights restored.

Upon re-opening of the offices, work will begin from 9.30 am to 5 pm at the Civil Secretariat, the officials said, adding that for other departments located outside the Secretariat, work will begin from 10 am to 4 pm.