Messi statue's dismantling work begins in Kolkata’s Lake Town

Dismantling work is officially underway in Kolkata’s Lake Town to relocate the iconic 70-foot statue of football legend Lionel Messi. Authorities initiated the process on Monday after declaring the towering structure a potential public safety hazard. Located along the busy VIP Road corridor, the statue had become a local landmark since its installation just five months ago. However, the Public Works Department (PWD) decided to act following mounting pressure from the community regarding the structure's structural integrity during inclement weather.

The relocation was prompted by formal complaints from local residents who reported that the massive framework appeared to sway and shake during recent spells of strong winds. Concerns peaked last week when a police complaint was filed, alleging that the statue’s stability was compromised, posing a direct threat to the thousands of motorists and pedestrians who frequent the heavily trafficked stretch every day. Engineers on-site confirmed that the "visible movement" necessitated an immediate shift to a more secure environment.

Technical operations at the site are being carried out in multiple, high-precision stages. Workers have begun attaching heavy-duty cables to the 70-foot frame, which will eventually be supported by a 40-tonne crane to prevent any sudden collapse. The plan involves carefully cutting the primary iron framework near the leg supports, allowing the entire structure to be lifted in a single piece. This method is intended to preserve the artistic value of the statue while ensuring that the dismantling process itself does not cause an accident on the busy roadway.