India, June 1 -- A massive 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata's Lake Town is set to be relocated after residents raised concerns about the structure's stability during strong winds.

Preparatory work for the relocation began on Monday, with authorities deploying cranes and engineering teams to safely dismantle and move the giant installation. The statue, which was unveiled around five months ago, had become a major attraction for football fans and visitors in the city.

According to reports, residents living near the VIP Road stretch complained that the towering structure appeared to sway during periods of high wind. Following an assessment, the Public Works Department (PWD) decided that the statue should be shifted to a safer loca...