70-Foot Lionel Messi Statue in Lake Town Sparks Safety Fears After Swaying in Moderate Winds
The iconic 70-foot-tall fibreglass statue of football legend Lionel Messi, located near the Lake Town Clock Tower crossing on VIP Road in Kolkata, has become the center of major public safety concerns. On Monday, moderate winds of around 24.1 kmph caused the massive structure to visibly shake and sway from its base. An entrepreneur in a nearby commercial building filmed the movement and posted it online, where it quickly went viral on social media. Alarmed local residents filed a formal complaint at the Lake Town Police Station, alleging that the giant installation poses an immediate collapse risk to pedestrians and motorists on the busy thoroughfare and demanding its swift removal or demolition.The structure is now facing intensive official scrutiny. A subsequent inspection by the Public Works Department (PWD) revealed critical structural deficiencies, noting that the statue’s center of gravity is misaligned. Furthermore, locals have alleged that the monument was erected without proper PWD clearance.
In response to the escalating panic, law enforcement authorities deployed police personnel to monitor the site, though officers noted that a temporary fix involving tightening loose screws was carried out.The controversial monument, which depicts the Argentine superstar lifting an eight-foot-tall World Cup trophy, was conceptualized by former MLA Sujit Bose (who is currently in Enforcement Directorate custody regarding a municipal recruitment scam) and crafted by Kumartuli sculptor Monti Paul. It was virtually inaugurated by Messi himself on December 13, 2025, during his high-profile “GOAT” India tour. The structural scare follows months of online ridicule regarding the statue’s lack of resemblance to the footballer, alongside an ongoing Calcutta High Court division bench inquiry examining whether the installation illegally occupies government land.
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