In any proceedings for the assessment of compensation and damages for land or interest therein taken or to be taken by eminent domain by the authority the following provisions shall be applicable:

(1)  At any time during the pendency of an action or proceeding, the authority or an owner may apply to the court for an order directing an owner or the authority, as the case may be, to show cause why further proceedings should not be expedited, and the court may upon the application make an order requiring that the hearings proceed and that any other steps be taken with all possible expedition.

(2)  If any of the land, or interest therein, is devoted to a public use, it may nevertheless be acquired, and the taking shall be effective provided that no land or interest therein, belonging to a public utility corporation may be acquired without the approval of the administrator of public utilities or other officer or tribunal having regulatory power over the corporation. Any land, or interest therein, already acquired by the authority may nevertheless be included within the taking for the purpose of acquiring any outstanding interests in the land.