A 70-foot-tall statue of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi was removed from Kolkata’s Lake Town area on Monday after authorities identified structural safety concerns following recent storms.
The Public Works Department (PWD) dismantled the statue from its pedestal and transported it to a secure location using a hydraulic crane. Officials said the operation was completed without causing any damage to the structure.
The decision followed complaints from local residents, who reported that the statue appeared to sway during periods of strong wind and adverse weather. After receiving the complaints, Lake Town police and PWD officials conducted a technical inspection of the installation.
According to officials, the contractor responsible for the project found faults in the foundation bolts supporting the structure and warned that the statue had become unsafe and was at risk of collapse. Authorities subsequently ordered its immediate removal as a precautionary measure.
The statue, reportedly built at a cost of around Rs 10 crore, was made of iron and fibre and completed within 40 days. It had been installed in December 2025 and quickly became a landmark for football fans in Kolkata.
Messi remotely unveiled the monument during his visit to the city on December 13, 2025, at Salt Lake Stadium. The visit marked the Argentine World Cup winner’s first trip to India in 14 years. He was accompanied by former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.
Although the event attracted thousands of supporters, Messi remained at the stadium only briefly before departing under heavy security. His early exit led to disappointment among some fans, with reports of unrest and crowd disturbances inside the venue.
The statue will remain in PWD custody until the West Bengal government decides on its future. While no official announcement has been made, local reports suggest authorities are considering relocating it to Rabindra Sarobar or Eco Park.
The project was initiated by former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose, who was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged municipal recruitment scam.
The removal also comes days after another football-themed structure outside Salt Lake Stadium was dismantled. The sculpture, designed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ahead of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, had remained a subject of political debate since its installation.
Officials have not announced a timeline for repairs or reinstallation of the Messi statue.
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