The commissioner may take, under the provisions of the general statutes relating to the taking of land for highway purposes, the ties, track appurtenances and rails of any disbanded or defunct street railway company, as defined in section 16-1, in state highways or bridges or, by agreement with any operating street railway company, take title to and possession of, on behalf of the state, any ties, rails or other track appurtenances in such highways or bridges, and thereupon such street railway company shall be relieved of all obligations with respect to construction, reconstruction, repair and maintenance of any part of such highways or bridges or with respect to the removal of such ties, rails and other track appurtenances.