So after Banihal is everyone playing safe? Yes, claim officers on the ground. But as the army is not under state control, it is not bound to follow its orders. But does that mean that the Ministry of Defence and Home Affairs are not on same page as far as the ban is concerned?
Questions like these normally come to every reporters mind but there is no one in the government who gives clear answers especially as far as Kashmir is concerned.
The National Highway starting from Kathua (Lakhanpur) to Leh (Ladakh) is the lifeline not only for Kashmir and Ladakh but also strategically important for the army and security forces.
All the supplies to the Valley and Ladakh have to pass through the National Highway in the absence of rail connectivity.
Since the road to Valley and Ladakh gets cut off due to snowfall, rains and landslides during winters, all the essential supplies have to be stocked well in advance to tide over six months of harsh winter.
Similarly, the same National Highway is extensively used for providing supplies to the army deployed in Kashmir Valley (15 Corps) and Ladakh (14 Corps) including Siachen. The entire troop movement takes place through this NH which at places is very narrow and is subjected to the vagaries of nature despite best efforts.
The Jawahar Tunnel and Zojila Pass throw up a challenge in maintaining and keeping them open even during the normal times leave alone during winters when they are covered under thick snowfall.
In addition to this, large number of Central Armed Police Forces or CAPF is also deployed in the Valley and all essential supplies and movement of men and material takes place regularly through the highway.
Disruption of communication is one of the most important aspect of insurgency and terrorism where the forces are cut off from supplies and reinforcements and also creating discontent and chaos among the public through shortage of essential items.
Old timers claim dilution of the security grid in Srinagar city is responsible for the unfettered movement of terrorists in the city which at one point of time was completely cleared of them.
But local officers, however, counter this by highlighting the figures. This year, in the first three months, close to 70 terrorists have been gunned down by security forces while the figure was just 37 last year for the same time period.
They, however, concede that a new difficult chapter in history of Kashmir is being written. "After Balakote strikes, a pseudo sense of normalcy is there. In fact, after a long time, after Friday prayers, there was no stone pelting even in downtown area too," said an officer.
Some claim policies of the Modi government via Kashmir is going to haunt the next government. Muscular policy being adopted is now being questioned as it is not bringing any results.
Radicalisation in the Valley has increased even at school and college level. Hijabs are more visible even in schools.
This time, at Shab-e-Mehraj, crowds were also thin at Hazratbal indicating that Sufism is dying a slow death in Kashmir while radicalism is gaining ground.
Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has termed this order as a reflection of a BJP-led mindset of turning Kashmir into a colony like British-era.
According to the order issued on April 3 by state Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra, no civilian traffic will be allowed to move from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Udhampur in Jammu region on Sundays and Wednesdays till May 31.
Facing criticism for closing down the National Highway connecting Jammu with Srinagar, the Union Home Ministry also took refuge in statistics to claim the ban was for only 15 per cent of total weekly hours.
The statement comes at a time when the ministry has to file its reply to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court which has directed it to respond by April 19 to a bunch of petitions challenging the decision.