Exclusive: Kolkata artisans race against the clock to complete Lionel Messi's 70 feet statue

Work on a gigantic Lionel Messi statue in north Kolkata is now in its final stretch, with the team of Monti Paul completing the last round of surface finishing while scaffolding still surrounds the structure. The artist, Monti Paul described the build as “a 50-foot statue (70-foot including plinth) crafted in 27 days by a 45-member crew,” noting that the process moved through armature work, modelling, texturing and final touch-ups.According to another source from the team of Monti Paul currently working on site, the sculpture is “a 50-foot statue that reaches nearly 70 feet with the plinth,” and has taken “a month and a half” to create using “fibre glass.” The source added that the work is happening near Lake Town clock tower. The team also said the crew worked almost every day, reflecting the scale and intensity of the project. Another artist who works closely with the team of Monti Paul described the effort as “a massive, coordinated build that needed many hands.” Throughout the construction period, the crew kept the site in constant motion, shifting scaffolding, lifts and material as different phases progressed. Photographs of the nearly complete figure show the statue still surrounded by metal frames and work platforms, indicating that finishing touches are in progress. With the core structure complete, the team of Monti Paul said the remaining steps include “smoothing, cleaning, and last inspections” before the unveiling."We have four more hours of work left today, and the we will be done. Passerbyes can it it , but the face will be covered till 13th in all probability" - Monti Pal, the artist Monti Paul and his team , known for handling large outdoor commissions and collaborative construction methods, continues to oversee the final phase as the towering Messi figure draws steady attention from passersby, becoming a neighbourhood landmark even before its official reveal.