Whenever under chapter one of Title 20 of the Revised Statutes the amount of the award may be paid into court, payment may be made into the Superior Court and may be distributed according to law. The department shall not abandon any condemnation proceeding subsequent to the date upon which it has taken possession of the land or property as herein provided.

L.1953, First Sp.Sess., c. 443, p. 2431, s. 13.