The central issue identified by the Court concerns the incomplete disbursement of funds allocated for transportation projects. The most significant shortfall occurred within the Ministry of Transport, where 4.6 billion rubles remained undispursed, and in Rosavtodor, with 2.5 billion rubles not yet allocated. This pattern shows a recurring challenge in effectively delivering the money earmarked for planned initiatives, even when the overall program remains funded.
The state program titled “Development of the Transport System” did not see all designated funds released. The remaining balance stood at 9.3 billion rubles, representing about 0.6 percent of the total allocated for the program. In practical terms, this means that only about nine-tenths of the intended expenditure was executed, with gaps visible in several high-priority projects.
Despite these shortfalls, there are positive indicators. The payout rate has shown improvement compared to the year 2020, even though the total amount of money spent grew by roughly 40 percent. This implies that the efficiency of fund distribution has begun to catch up with the rising scale of investments, a sign of better budgeting discipline over time.
Among the measures that illustrate progress, it is noted that the container cargo indicator improved and that more than 6,000 kilometers of federal roads received repairs. In addition, the carrying capacity of the main railway lines was enhanced, contributing to a more robust transport backbone. Such developments suggest that the overall program is delivering tangible improvements in critical infrastructure areas, even in segments where earlier audits had raised concerns about performance and timeliness.
Valery Bogomolov, an auditor with the Accounts Chamber, commented on the findings, indicating that the results reflect both advances and continuing challenges. He pointed out that gains were recorded in sectors previously scrutinized, while emphasizing the need for ongoing oversight to ensure that disbursements align with project milestones and that funds are allocated to the most urgent priorities. The audit demonstrates that, despite some under-execution of planned expenditures, the trajectory shows a move toward more effective financial management in the transport sector. It underscores the importance of strict adherence to budgetary plans, transparent reporting of disbursements, and timely completion of targeted facilities and infrastructure upgrades. This balanced view helps policymakers, stakeholders, and the public understand not only where shortcomings exist but where systems are beginning to work more reliably.