The World Bank has been pressing for the removal of restrictions on Floor Space Index (FSI) — or at least their considerable relaxation — in the inner parts of Mumbai and Bangalore.
The thinking that leads to this recommendation is based on a mathematical model. Called the monocentric-city model, this assumes the city is inhabited by a number of identical residents, each earning the same income, and who all work in the Central Business District (CBD).
The inhabitants commute from their residences to the CBD on a dense radial road network, paying a certain amount per roundtrip mile (including the cost of travel time).
An implicit assumption is that commuting is by car, not by public transport that might lead to some preferred routes, and not by walking which incurs no explicit travel cost.
Further, each resident is assumed to be a renter, paying a certain amount per square foot of housing, and occupying a certain amount of square feet of housing. The price naturally falls with distance from the CBD, and the housing area occupied increases.
The mathematical formulation then moves through various complexities to the consideration of FSI, and what happens when FSI is restricted (as it is in most cities). The FSI restriction tends to limit population density in the central part of the city; and so causes the city to spread out.
The first indication that something is flawed in the argument comes from consideration of where the limit lies if we allow unlimited densification. Every increment in density will result in still more saving for commuters.
As the model stands, there is no limit to the saving possible, until commuting cost is reduced to zero. We are obviously missing something. There has to be a constraining parameter that would put a cap, sooner or later, on how small the city can get while being both efficient and attractive
The author of the passage is likely to agree with which of the following?
Correct Answer: (c) The monocentric-city model assumes a homogeneous life style among the residents in the inner parts of the two cities.
Solution:The above given option (c) will be the correct answer. According to the passage, the author is likely to agree with model assumes a homogeneous life style among the residents in the inner parts of the cities.
Hence, the correct answer is (c).
