SRINAGAR : More than 210 trucks and buses would be pressed into service to shift seat of the Government Darbar , about 140 year old practice, to Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir from Srinagar.
Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country having two capitals for winter and summer months. The advance parties of different government departments are leaving Srinagar for Jammu tomorrow.
Meanwhile, to allow free movement of trucks and buses, carrying office record and employees, the traffic department has decided to allow only one-way traffic from Srinagar to Jammu on October 31, November I and November 8.
Officials said around 150 trucks and 60 buses would be used to ferry the employees and the office record from Srinagar to Jammu. Besides, one crane, two extra buses and mobile workshop vans would also escort the convoy to fix the broken vehicles during the movement.
It has also been decided that apart from its main booking counters, State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) would open additional counters at Civil Secretariat for issuing tickets in advance to employees, moving with the darbar to Jammu.
The offices working in Srinagar for five days a week would close on October 30, while the ones working for six days would close on October 31, and will reopen at Jammu on November 9.
They said advance parties shall leave from here tomorrow for the winter capital.
Officials said the Secretary Transport, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Kashmir and General Manager SRTC said all arrangements are put in place for smooth movement of Durbar move convoys.
The shifting of darbar move, twice in a financial year costs crores of rupees to Jammu and Kashmir annually. Besides work in government offices also remained affected for about a month because of closing and reopening of office record at both the capitals.
However, it is the people who suffer during the shifting of darbar, including the office of Chief minister, his cabinet colleagues and top bureaucrats.
The former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said offices should function from Srinagar during winter when people need the administration because of severe cold and in summer from Jammu when there is hot weather there. (UNI)