Traffic restrictions on Srinagar-Jammu highway for two days ahead of Darbar Move
Srinagar, Oct 29 (KINS): Traffic restrictions will be enforced on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on October 31 and November 1 to ensure the smooth movement of the Jammu and Kashmir Secretariat convoy from Srinagar to Jammu as part of the annual Darbar Move, officials said on Thursday.
According to officials, the movement of goods carriers will be regulated during the two-day period, with restrictions imposed on vehicles travelling along the highway in view of the shifting of government offices to the winter capital.
No goods carriers will be permitted to move from Jakheni in Udhampur towards Srinagar on October 31 and November 1. Similarly, the movement of goods carriers from Jakheni towards Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar, as well as from Qazigund towards Banihal, Ramban and Udhampur, will not be allowed after 2 am on both days.
However, heavy motor vehicles travelling downhill from Qazigund towards Jammu will be allowed to proceed in a regulated manner, officials said.
Operators transporting fresh and perishable goods, along with livestock, have been advised to plan their loading and movement accordingly to avoid inconvenience due to the restrictions.
The Secretariat offices observing a five-day working week will close in Srinagar on Friday, while those following a six-day schedule will close on Saturday. Government offices are scheduled to reopen in Jammu on November 2.
The Darbar Move is a biannual administrative practice under which the Jammu and Kashmir government operates from Jammu during the winter months and Srinagar during the summer season.
The tradition dates back to 1872, when it was introduced by Maharaja Gulab Singh to help the administration function despite the extreme seasonal weather conditions in the two regions. The practice continued after Independence but was discontinued in 2021 during Lieutenant Governor’s rule.
The arrangement was restored by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in 2025, a year after he assumed office, allowing the government to function from both the Jammu and Kashmir regions during different parts of the year.(KINS)
