Authorities in Kolkata will remove a 70-foot [1] fiberglass statue of Lionel Messi after the structure began swaying in moderate winds.

The removal is necessary to prevent a potential collapse in a high-traffic area, posing a significant risk to public safety in the Lake Town neighborhood.

Engineers identified structural deficiencies that made the monument unstable. The statue was originally installed in December 2022 [1], but recent observations of its movement during wind events prompted a formal safety review.

Reports of the decision to dismantle the monument surfaced on May 25, 2024 [2]. The structural instability led officials to conclude that the fiberglass construction could not withstand the environmental pressures of the region.

"The structure is unsafe," a senior West Bengal state government official said [3].

The monument had become a local landmark since its installation, reflecting the deep passion for football, and the global influence of the Argentine star in India. However, the state government determined that the risk of structural failure outweighed the value of the landmark.

Officials have not yet specified a timeline for the complete dismantling process or whether a replacement statue will be commissioned. The focus remains on the immediate removal of the hazardous structure to ensure the safety of residents and visitors in the Lake Town area [3].

“"The structure is unsafe."”

The decision highlights the technical challenges of constructing oversized fiberglass monuments in regions prone to variable weather. While the statue served as a cultural symbol of football's popularity in West Bengal, the priority has shifted to urban safety and engineering compliance to avoid a catastrophic structural failure in a populated city center.