Omar Abdullah inaugurates ₹189 lakh infrastructure works at Jammu Civil Secretariat
Synopsis
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah kicked off the winter session of the Darbar Move on 2 November by inaugurating ₹189 lakh worth of new infrastructure at the Jammu Civil Secretariat — including a prefabricated office block and a renovated reception hall — as governance formally shifted from Srinagar to Jammu for the season, continuing a 160-year-old Dogra-era tradition.
Key Takeaways
Omar Abdullah inaugurated ₹189 lakh worth of infrastructure works at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu on 2 November 2026 .
A pre-fabricated office accommodation block costing ₹158.09 lakh was developed under the CAPEX budget .
A renovated Reception Hall at the entrance gate was completed at ₹31.10 lakh under the M&R component .
The inauguration marked the formal start of the Darbar Move winter session, with J&K offices relocating from Srinagar to Jammu after closure on 30 October .
The Darbar Move is a 160-year-old administrative tradition started by the erstwhile Dogra Maharajas .
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday, 2 November 2026, inaugurated infrastructure development works worth ₹189 lakh at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, marking the formal resumption of administrative activity in the winter capital under the traditional Darbar Move. The inauguration coincided with the first day of the J&K government's bi-annual relocation from Srinagar to Jammu, following the closure of offices in the summer capital on 30 October.
What Was Inaugurated
Abdullah inaugurated two distinct projects at the Civil Secretariat. The first is a newly constructed pre-fabricated office accommodation block, developed at an estimated cost of ₹158.09 lakh under the CAPEX budget. The second is a renovated Reception Hall at the entrance gate of the secretariat, completed at a cost of ₹31.10 lakh under the Maintenance and Repairs (M&R) component. Together, the two projects account for the total outlay of ₹189 lakh.
Purpose and Scope of the Works
The infrastructure works are aimed at strengthening office facilities and improving the working environment for government employees, as well as creating a better reception experience for visitors and members of the public. Engineers briefed the Chief Minister on the details of each project, after which Abdullah conducted a personal inspection of the newly developed facilities to review arrangements put in place for the smooth functioning of secretariat offices.
Darbar Move: A 160-Year Tradition Resumes
The Darbar Move — the bi-annual shuttling of J&K's top administrative offices between its twin capitals — is an administrative practice dating back more than 160 years, initiated by the erstwhile Dogra Maharajas of the erstwhile state. Under this system, the government operates from Srinagar during summer and shifts to Jammu for winter. The relocation involves the offices of the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues, and senior bureaucrats. Abdullah was received with a guard of honour on his arrival at the Civil Secretariat, a ceremonial acknowledgement that the seat of governance had formally moved to Jammu.
Senior Officials Present
The inauguration was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Acting Chief Secretary Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary Estates M. Raju, Secretary Revenue Avny Lavasa, Director General Estates Jammu Mushtaq Ahmed, and other senior officers. The broad turnout of senior officials at the event underscored the administrative significance of the Darbar Move's resumption.
What This Signals
The infrastructure upgrades reflect a wider effort to bring secretariat facilities up to standard following the restoration of the elected government in J&K. This is the first full Darbar Move cycle under Chief Minister Abdullah's administration, which assumed office after J&K's first assembly elections following the revocation of its special status. With governance now centred in Jammu for the winter months, officials are expected to prioritise pending administrative decisions ahead of the next legislative session.
Point of View
The pressure will be on outcomes — not inaugurations.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What infrastructure did Omar Abdullah inaugurate at the Jammu Civil Secretariat?
Omar Abdullah inaugurated two projects worth a combined ₹189 lakh: a pre-fabricated office accommodation block costing ₹158.09 lakh under the CAPEX budget, and a renovated Reception Hall at the secretariat entrance completed at ₹31.10 lakh under the Maintenance and Repairs component.
What is the Darbar Move and why does it matter?
The Darbar Move is a bi-annual practice of relocating J&K's top government offices between the summer capital Srinagar and the winter capital Jammu, a tradition over 160 years old started by the erstwhile Dogra Maharajas. It means the Chief Minister, cabinet, and senior bureaucrats operate from Jammu during winter and from Srinagar during summer.
When did the J&K government shift to Jammu for winter 2026?
The J&K government offices closed in Srinagar on 30 October 2026 and formally resumed functioning in Jammu on 2 November 2026, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah receiving a guard of honour on his arrival at the Civil Secretariat.
Who attended the inauguration at the Jammu Civil Secretariat?
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Acting Chief Secretary Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary Estates M. Raju, Secretary Revenue Avny Lavasa, and Director General Estates Jammu Mushtaq Ahmed were among those present.
Why are infrastructure works being carried out at the Jammu Civil Secretariat?
The works are aimed at improving working conditions for government employees and upgrading reception facilities for visitors following the resumption of the Darbar Move. The upgrades are part of a broader effort to bring secretariat infrastructure up to standard under the newly elected J&K government.
