Bus controllers cost 10 times more than they collect in fines

The monthly cost of maintaining bus controllers in Nizhny Novgorod exceeds the fines collected from passengers by ten times, according to statistics shared with NN.RU by the Center for Transport Systems Development (TsRTS).

The TsRTS currently employs 30 controllers. Their average salary is around 45,000–49,000 rubles per month ($500–$544 at current rates). This means that monthly, this expense item consumes 1.3–1.5 million rubles ($14,400–$16,700 at current rates) from the budget.

At the same time, each month controllers collect fines several times smaller. For example, in December 2025, they issued more than 300 reports: 300 for fare evasion and 32 for using someone else«s discount card. In fact, residents paid 134 such fines totaling 154,000 rubles ($1,700 at current rates). That is 10 times less than the amount spent on inspectors» salaries.

In total for 2025, controllers issued 2,600 reports against passengers. Offenders paid fines totaling 1,537,000 rubles ($17,100 at current rates). This is roughly comparable to the amount spent on «transport overseers» salaries in one month.

Some Nizhny Novgorod residents are unhappy with the controllers« work. They believe that inspections should target carriers, not ordinary passengers—some carriers are known for broken validators and dirty interiors. In 2025, four cases of passengers attacking TsRTS workers were recorded. Reports have been filed with the police against the attackers.