(a) Upon written application made to the commissioner in such form as he prescribes, said commissioner may issue permits to private individuals, corporations or other organizations or to towns or other public authorities or agencies to construct and maintain, at the expense of the permittee or permittees, bridle paths, pedestrian walks, bicycle paths and suitable entrances to, and exits from, such walks and paths on the land owned by the state along any highway maintained by the state. Each such permit shall specify the location of the proposed walks and paths and entrances and exits which may be constructed and maintained thereunder. Each such permit may be revoked at any time, with or without cause, by the commissioner. All construction and maintenance work pursuant to each such permit shall be subject to the supervision and control of the commissioner or, if the permittee so desires and said commissioner consents thereto, the funds for such work may be deposited in advance with the commissioner and the construction and maintenance work may then be performed by the commissioner to the extent that funds so deposited will pay for the same, provided, if the work is performed by the commissioner, he shall furnish to the permittee, prior to the commencement of such work, an estimate of the cost thereof, with specifications of the work to be done. No fee shall be charged any resident of the state for the use of such walks and paths. If a town or other public authority or agency requests a permit to construct and maintain such path or walk the commissioner is authorized to contribute one-half of the cost of construction of such path or walk from funds available to the Department of Transportation, provided such town, public authority or agency agrees to assume the maintenance, responsibility, liability and supervision of such path or walk.

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(b) When the selectmen of any town discontinue any highway or private way, or land dedicated as such, pursuant to section 13a-49, they may except from the operation of such discontinuance and reserve to the town and to the public such rights in such discontinued highway, private way or land dedicated as such, as may be reasonably necessary to construct and maintain a bridle path, pedestrian walk or bicycle path. Any such rights excepted and reserved to a town under this section shall be subject to the rights of property owners bounding a discontinued highway as are provided in section 13a-55.