Jammu, Oct 12: With alteration and modification of existing structure, speedy work on the new office complexes and face-lift of official accommodations, winter capital of the state is gearing up for annual Durbar Move.
 This year the move employees will be able to enjoy better office space as an entire block of additional 20 large rooms  have been build at the Civil Secretariat complex to house those departments which had to hire private buildings for  their six months stay here.
 The civil secretariat functions in rotation for six months at winter capital Jammu and for the same period at summer capital Srinagar, a trend started by the erstwhile Dogra rulers around 150-years ago.
 According to the officials, the rooms have been constructed to overcome the ‘space crisis’ a major problem the employees face after the highest seat of the government, which moves from Kashmir to Jammu, every winter.
 Sources said nearly two dozen departments had to stay outside the secretariat every year in the absence of space in the existing building.
 Officials said eight-clerical rooms had been modernized which will be inaugurated on the day Durbar opens in Jammu.
 Director Estates, Kurshid Ahmed said, “There is always space problem in civil secretariat, but with the addition of 20 more rooms, we would be able to accommodate more departments and employees”.
 He said around Rs 1 Crore had been spent on the new block.
 Meanwhile, the Estate and other departments have started the renovation of the quarters where the employees are given accommodation during winters.
 The government quarters at Janipur, Sarwal, Subash Nagar and B.C Road are being given a facelift for the arrival of the employees. Jammu Municipal Corporation has also geared itself for the annual Durbar and has pressed in men and material to make the city ready.
 It is pertinent to mention here that the General Administration Department order, issued last week, has set October 29 for closing of state government offices in Srinagar and October 30 for those having six working days in a week.
 Official said all the government departments had been asked to send their advance parties to Jammu by October 25, consisting of one gazetted officer and four or five non-gazetted employees, who on their arrival will receive the office records of their respective departments.
 Apart from this the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation has been asked to make available sufficient number of buses in good condition for transportation of Jammu-based employees on October 30 and 31 and Kashmir-based employees on November 6 and 7.
 ”Loading of trucks shall commence on October 30. Loading of records in the offices located outside the Secretariat premises, shall take place after working hours on October 30”, said the GAD order.
 Meanwhile, the State Health Department has been asked to keep available medical aid facilities enroute at various places including Qazigund, Banihal, Ramsu, Ramban, Patnitap, Kud, Udhampur and Jajarkotli, during the days when the employees travel from Srinagar to Jammu.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST