Darbar Move: Offices to close in Jammu on April 24

Civil secretariat and other offices of Jammu and Kashmir government will close in this winter capital city on April 24 and reopen in Srinagar on May 5, as part of "Darbar Move", the bi-annual practice of shifting of the state capital.
"The Civil Secretariat and other offices will close in Jammu on April 24 and will reopen in Srinagar on May 5," J-K Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey said while reviewing the "Darbar Move" arrangements here today.
The chief secretary directed putting in place all necessary measures to ensure smooth movement of the "officials and official records".
He said sufficient number of cranes, mobile workshops, besides mobile medical teams and ambulances should be provided all along the national highway during these transit days.

The government will deploy over 100 trucks and buses to ferry employees and transport official record from Jammu to summer capital Srinagar.
"JK SRTC shall deploy the vehicles for transportation on April 25, 26 and May 3 and 4," he said.

He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police have made arrangements for security escort to accompany the convoys carrying employees' official record.
Khandey directed the Transport Department and Traffic Police to monitor fares being charged by sumo and taxi operators during the move days.
"IT department has been asked to ensure that LAN/Internet in Srinagar secretariat is fully functional on the opening day, while concerned departments have been directed to ensure complete sanitation, electricity and drinking water in all residential colonies of employees," he said.

It was told that restoration work in most of the residential quarters affected by flood waters has been completed, whereas work on few remaining quarters will be completed by next week.
Meanwhile, the chief secretary asked Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to personally inspect all employee residential colonies and ensure necessary facilities are in place including cleaning up water storage tanks and launching an intensive sanitation drive in all colonies.
Divisional Commissioner was also asked to take a special review of the security arrangements for employee residential colonies.