Thread by @BiIndia

#InPics | These billion-dollar cities are straight out of science fiction, and they will soon become a reality

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Take a look at the development projects that are blurring the lines between reality and science fiction.

Senegal's $2 billion futuristic city has been likened to Wakanda from "Black Panther."

Qatar is building a $45 billion city to host the World Cup in 2022.

Plans for the city of Lusail first surfaced in 2005, but were delayed until 2010, when Qatar won the bid to host the #2022FIFAWorldCup

The city is now set to arrive by 2020, and will feature a new stadium, skyscrapers, villas, and 22 new hotels. It will also implement pneumatic trash tubes that transport waste to a single location.

A $500 billion megacity in Saudi Arabia is preparing for a world of robot workers and drone taxis.

Malaysia is building a high-tech version of Singapore that's covered in trees.

A chain of four Malaysian islands will soon become home to a $100 billion project that could challenge Singapore's dominance in the region.

Saudi Arabia's forthcoming financial district has skywalks that are cooled using solar power.

Kenya's $12 billion development project could become the "smartest" city in Africa.

Gandhinagar, India, has installed digital signs that beam government messages to the public.

India is working to transform the city of Gandhinagar into a high-tech mecca. In addition to the usual "smart city" elements like sensors and surveillance cameras, Gandhinagar includes some unorthodox design features.

The city plans to install five cube-shaped digital signs that beam videos, including government messages and weather updates, at major traffic intersections. It will also add PA systems that play devotional music in the early mornings.

While the final cost of the project isn't clear, India's prime minister has set aside $1 trillion to build 100 smart cities by 2022.