In Kerala, several hundreds of shops on both sides of the National Highway 47 remained closed today in protest against acquisition of more land for road widening works. The protest is being observed from Aroor in Alappuzha to Kazhakkoottam in Thiruvananthapuram district.<br/><br/>The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasai Ekopana Samithi spearheads the protest.<br/>The authorities are planning to widen the existing highway by adding 15 more meters on the Aroor-Kazhakoottam stretch.