A giant 70-foot statue of football legend Lionel Messi in Kolkata, India, is set to be removed after engineers raised concerns about the structure’s safety during strong winds.
The statue, which was unveiled in December as part of Messi’s “GOAT tour” in India, was created to honour the Argentine star and quickly became a major attraction in the city. However, local authorities said recent inspections showed the monument was unstable and swaying dangerously.
West Bengal legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee confirmed that engineers from the Public Works Department examined the structure after residents complained earlier this week. According to officials, the statue was found to be unsafe, especially because of its location near a busy roadway and an underground subway system.
Authorities said removing the structure would not be simple due to the surrounding infrastructure, but plans are already underway to dismantle and relocate it to a safer area.
Reports from local media indicate that the fiberglass-and-iron statue has temporarily been secured using heavy-duty nylon ropes while barricades have been placed around the site to protect pedestrians and motorists.
The massive monument was built over 27 days by a team of 45 workers and was unveiled virtually by Messi himself through a video appearance and ceremonial activation.
Messi’s visit to Kolkata during the promotional tour also drew massive crowds, causing crowd-control challenges around Salt Lake Stadium.
Officials are now reviewing possible alternative locations where the statue can be safely reinstalled once structural improvements are completed.
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