India's 'unsafe' 70ft Messi statue to be moved

A 70ft Lionel Messi statue in Kolkata, West Bengal, was erected in December during Messi’s “GOAT” tour. Local residents complained after the statue was seen swaying in the wind. Engineers from the Public Works Department inspected the monument and found its structural integrity severely compromised. Immediate removal and relocation were ordered because the statue was considered unsafe. Heavy-duty nylon ropes secured the fibreglass and iron structure, and barricades were placed to keep people and traffic away. Authorities planned to remove the statue as soon as possible and explore alternative locations, noting that its proximity to a busy road and a subway complicates the process. The statue was assembled over 27 days by a 45-person crew and was unveiled virtually by Messi.

"Engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD) carried out an inspection of the statue following complaints from local residents on Monday. Its immediate removal and relocation were ordered after the inspection found the statue's structural integrity to be severely compromised. "The statue of the Argentine football legend was found [to be] unsafe," said West Bengal state legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee. "We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind.""

"Local media say the fibreglass and iron structure has been secured with heavy-duty nylon ropes, while barricades have been erected to keep people and traffic clear of the site. Authorities are reportedly exploring alternative locations for the statue, which was assembled over the course of 27 days by a 45-strong crew. Messi, widely regarded as one of the games greatest players, unveiled the statue virtually - he appeared on a video screen and pressed a button on a remote control - in December."

"Mukherjee said the proximity of the statue to a busy road and a subway make the statue's removal "easier said than done," but that they plan to "remove the statue at the earliest opportunity." The giant monument in Kolkata, West Bengal, was erected in December during Messi's 'GOAT' tour of the country - GOAT meaning 'greatest of all time'. The 70ft statue was spotted "swaying in the wind"."

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