Lionel Messi could lose his statue in Kolkata due to 'structural flaws'

The statue of football star Lionel Messi, which was unveiled during the World Cup winner's visit to Kolkata in December last year, could be removed due to safety issues. The police and Public Works Department (PWD) officials were forced to inspect the 70-foot statue on Monday after a few videos reportedly showed the statue swaying in the wind.

PWD officials later claimed that the screws in the "primary framework" had come loose, resulting in the swaying. According to the Indian Express, the engineers have reported that the primary structure is in poor condition and there's a possibility it could collapse during the monsoon.

Messi statue to come down in Kolkata?

Subsequently, authorities have reportedly decided to remove the statue.

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The statue was unveiled by the Argentine legend through a remote mechanism during his visit to Kolkata, in what was projected as a symbolic tribute to football culture in Bengal.

But, the structure soon found itself at the centre of legal and public scrutiny. Questions had earlier been raised in court over whether the installation stood on government land and whether required clearances were obtained.

The project had been associated with former minister Sujit Bose, who had played a key role in ensuring the statue came up in that area.

The installation had also become a talking point on social media, after many people claimed its facial features bore little resemblance to Messi, with some jokingly suggesting it looked similar to a Bollywood actor.

Monday's incident also brought back memories of the chaotic scenes at Salt Lake Stadium, where thousands of fans had gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of the football icon. The event later triggered allegations of mismanagement and even led to litigation.

Local residents alleged that such a large roadside installation required stricter safety safeguards and questioned whether all procedural requirements and no-objection clearances had been followed.

With agency inputs