Most boutiques on the road leading up to the Minar from the rear —that street of high fashion known as the Kalka Das Marg — had been shut for violation of building laws.

But another provision — the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions Act) — is bringing back the bustle in this stretch. This Act provides protection to properties that had been sealed, and till now had provided amnesty to sealed properties in rural areas.

But this year, its cover has been expanded to urban areas as well — this particular stretch being the immediate beneficiary.

The Act allows major properties to continue temporarily till they are converted to their proper legal use. It has been extended every year till now, from January to December.

Meanwhile, the brooms are out on this stretch to dust down the cobwebs. A popular eatery here is the Olive Bar and Kitchen, that is gearing up to throw its doors open. Though its blue, wooden gates are still chained, the lock now hangs from the inside. Several guards sit around watching the men clean the large courtyard.

Adjacent to Olive is the high-end boutique Carma, where work is on at a frantic pace.

De-sealing has come as an interim relief to owners whose properties had been sealed on grounds of misuse or unauthorised construction. Many high-end outlets in Mehrauli like the One Style Mile — the stretch between Qutub Colonnade and Ambawatta Complex — and other shops on M G Road had been sealed in this drive.

However, the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act came into effect in 2006 after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) started sealing commercial establishments in residential colonies in February that year. An MCD official said: “The government brought urban areas under the protection umbrella of the Act this year to rescue the major properties that were lying sealed. Till last year, only the rural village or abadi land was protected.”

Municipal sources said these properties would ultimately run according to its legal use and this is largely the condition for de-sealing.

For example, owners of the Ambawatta Complex, the high-end shopping complex — had given an undertaking that it will be ultimately converted into a residential area, upon which it got the permission to de-seal.

Manager, Ambawatta Complex, Anil Kumar said: “The complex will be used for residential purposes by the owners. The construction for that is being carried out. But if we get permission to use it commercially after December (when the Act expires), the shopping complex might well be back.”

Some outlets on Mehrauli and MG Road — both of which come under urban village areas — have, however, got permission to carry on commercial activities. Director, One Style Mile, Sanjeev Batra told Newsline: “As of now, we are glad the plot has been de-sealed. We shall keep taking things as they come.”

One Style Mile was officially de-sealed on May 22 this year and soon after, Ambawatta Complex was given the permission to reopen on May 25. Several other property owners in the area too have begun applying for permission to de-seal under the Act.