The committee, formed by Navalkar after he relinquished charge of the ministry in 1996 includes the transport secretary, transport commissioner and the additional commissioner of traffic, besides BMC officials. The committee was to advise the government on issues relating to traffic congestion in the city.

``Formerly, the meetings were held every one or two months, but now there have been no meetings for a year,'' Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) President Nitin Dossa told Express Newsline.

He said many crucial issues regarding the city's traffic needed to be discussed at the forum, including the chaos caused by the Mahim flyover.

Admitting that the body hadn't met in a year,Navalkar attributed this to frequent changes in transport ministers and bureaucrats. Since Navalkar in 1996, there have been three state transport ministers: Chandrakant Khaire, Diwakar Raote and now Gajanan Kirtikar.

``However, I am in constant touch with the Additional CP (Traffic) SPS Yadav and Joint CP PS Pasricha on traffic issues,'' he said.

Though the committee had not met, several suggestions like clearing Senapati Bapat Marg of encroachments had been implemented, he said. Now the imposition of the model code of conduct last month had severely limited the functioning of the body, he said.

One of the major issues being taken up by the committee was the creation of additional parking space in densely congested areas like Crawford Market. He had suggested converting the basement of the disputed Ashoka Market at GT hospital into a parking space for 500 cars.

The committee could not make any major policy decisions but only suggestions on improving traffic in the city.

However, one of the mostimportant suggestions made by the committee over two years ago is yet to be implemented or even discussed seriously by the state government.

This was the banning of all motor cars from entering the city limits. The plan was to completely decongest the Central Business District (CBD) and encourage use of public transport. Cars were to halt near Mahalaxmi from where passengers would be ferried in public transport.

Other proposals included introducing a cordon pricing system as in Singapore where motorists would be charged a heavy penalty for entering certain congested areas of the city. ``But such proposals can only be implemented if there is political will,'' said a senior official from the state transport department.

Meanwhile, the hibernating Traffic Advisory Committee was revived by SPS Yadav in April. The body, which again consists of representatives from the BMC, RTO, transport union and motorists has already held two meetings with a third slated for August 30.

However, while this is more of aforum for bringing together all the concerned parties, Navalkar's high-powered committee is empowered to take decisions in consultation with the state government.