Nizhny Novgorod's "Vodolet" will receive subsidies despite missing its targets.

      15 August 2025 13:16

      [211]

      Economy

      The Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation published the results of an audit of the execution of the federal budget for 2024, which paid particular attention to the activities of the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport (Rosmorrechflot). The document was published on the agency's website.

      Auditors noted that in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and other regions planned revenue targets were not met, which led to undercollection of rental fees totaling 39.3 million rubles. In particular, the company Vodolet, participating in the high-speed river transport project, carried 624 fewer passengers than planned.

      The Accounts Chamber emphasized that Vodolet agreed at the end of the season to reduce its planned targets, but the amount of state support received by the company did not change. As a result of the audit, auditors calculated that support for Vodolet and other carriers was overstated by 24.2 million rubles, and that the calculation of subsidies and reporting were carried out incorrectly.

      The report also states that budgetary allocations totaling 69.2 million rubles were not used for their intended purposes. This was caused by numerous changes to the budget estimate that were made without proper justification.

      Despite the identified violations, Rosmorrechflot continues to receive funding for projects related to the development of maritime and river transport, including the implementation of measures to ensure navigation safety. However, as the audit results showed, it is necessary to improve control over the expenditure of budgetary funds and to fulfill obligations to contractors more effectively.

      The Accounts Chamber called for a review of approaches to budget management in the maritime and river transport sector, especially in light of the growing challenges related to changes in the external economic situation and the need to modernize infrastructure.

      According to data from the Russian Ministry of Transport, in the first six months of 2025, 4.44 million people used inland water routes — 30.5% more compared to the same period last year. The ministry also reported that in 2024, on subsidized routes in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Tatarstan and Chuvashia, six hydrofoil vessels carried 34,000 passengers. In 2025 it is planned to increase funding to 150 million rubles and expand the geography of services by including new routes from Nizhny Novgorod Oblast to Yaroslavl Oblast. It is expected that by the end of the year the number of passengers carried will reach approximately 52,000.

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