Darbar Move offices in Jammu to close today

Ovaise Gul
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30 Apr 2026

Srinagar gets facelift; SSP traffic assures smooth vehicular movement

Srinagar, Apr 29: The stage is set for the annual Darbar Move as government offices in Jammu, the winter capital, will close on Thursday and reopen in Srinagar, the summer capital, on May 4, with the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation set to operate buses for employees on May 1 and May 3.

According to officials, government offices observing a five-day work schedule in Jammu will close on April 30, while those following a six-day work week will shut on May 2. After the closure of offices in Jammu, all departments will resume functioning in Srinagar from May 4.

To ensure smooth transit, each convoy will be backed by breakdown response systems, including cranes, standby buses, and mobile workshops. Police will provide escorts and facilitate movement along key stretches of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Ahead of the Darbar Move, Srinagar roads are being beautified, with painting work continuing for the last several days on the commercial hub road leading to the Civil Secretariat. Footpaths and dividers have been painted to present a beautiful look in the city.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic Srinagar City, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, told Rising Kashmir that an existing plan is in place to deal with the Darbar Move traffic rush in Srinagar. "This time we will implement the same with little modifications wherever necessary, and we hope that with people's cooperation, we will be able to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the city," he said.

The traditional bi-annual Darbar Move practice was resumed last year after a gap of more than four years. The practice, initiated in 1872 by Maharaja Gulab Singh to move the capital between Jammu in winter and Srinagar in summer, was halted by the Lieutenant Governor in 2021. It was resumed after cabinet nod in October 2025, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announcing the approval.