In colonial India in 1853, the first passenger train service ran between which two stations on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway?

Introduction / Context:
The history of railways in India is a favourite topic in general knowledge and competitive examinations. The first passenger train marks the beginning of a new era in transport and communication under British rule. This question tests whether you remember the exact route of the very first passenger train that ran in India in the nineteenth century.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the first regular passenger train service in India.
• The event took place in the year 1853 under British colonial administration.
• Several important station pairs from different regions are given as options.

Concept / Approach:
To answer, you need to recall a well known historical fact: the first passenger train in India ran on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. It connected two points near present day Mumbai. Many aspirants confuse this with later major routes such as Howrah to Delhi or other important trunk lines, so careful memory of dates and names is needed.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember that the first Indian passenger train ran on 16 April 1853. Step 2: Recall that this train started from Bombay, which is now called Mumbai. Step 3: The train travelled to Thane, a nearby station, covering around thirty four kilometres. Step 4: Compare the options and identify which pair exactly matches Bombay and Thane. Step 5: Option B specifically mentions Bombay and Thane, so it is correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check this information with textbooks or standard railway history notes that always mention the inaugural run from Bombay to Thane on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. Other famous routes like Howrah to Delhi and long distance trains developed later, after railways had already been established in several parts of the subcontinent.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Kalyan and Pune, refers to two important stations but not to the first passenger line. Option C, Howrah and Delhi, became important later as a long distance route. Option D, New Delhi and Madras, is much later because New Delhi itself was developed in the twentieth century. Option E, Bombay and Ahmedabad, also represents a later expansion of railway networks, not the very first passenger service.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners misread the question and choose any familiar station pair from the options. Another mistake is to associate the first passenger train with the longest or most famous route rather than the real short experimental line. To avoid such confusion, always connect Bombay and Thane specifically with the date 16 April 1853 in your memory notes.

Final Answer:
Thus, the first passenger train in India ran between Bombay and Thane in 1853.