The bioavailable concentrations of heavy metals in surface soils and the crops grown thereon in the low-lying agricultural land of Hooghly river basin were assessed to quantify the magnitude of metal contamination in the prevalent agro-ecosystem. The soil and plant samples were collected from the same contaminated sites receiving long-term irrigation through sewage effluent from industries, disposal of waste water sludge, municipal refusals, animal wastes and heavy traffic-road washing. The amounts of DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in soils varied widely ranging from 7.83-15.41, 6.64-18.10, 0.35-3.14 and 0.64-6.67 mg/kg, respectively, whereas the corresponding figures for Cd, Cr, Ni, Co and Pb ranged from 0.02-0.12, 0.14-1.51, 1.95-6.93, 0.04-0.36 and 1.97-6.71 mg/kg, respectively. The variable metal loadings from numerous anthropogenic activities (primary factor) coupled with some transmissivity factors such as heavy rainfall-runoff situation, adverse land topography and cropping condition (secondary factor) were primarily responsible for the toxic build-up of heavy metals in these soils and theirs spatial variations due to horizontal movement. Based on simple correlations, linear regressions and step-down multiple regression studies, it is revealed that amongst soil properties, organic carbon and pH were estimated to be the key parameters in influencing the availability of metals in soils. However, the cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity and CaCO₃ content also contributed a significant role in augmenting the metal availability. Similarly, the plant uptake of metal species, regardless of crops and cultivars, for Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu also showed wide variations ranging from 170-782, 27-121, 16-61 and 10-32 mg/kg in dry matter, respectively, whilst the corresponding uptake for Cd, Cr, Ni, Co and Pb were 0.11-0.96, 0.82-4.30, 1.28-6.33, 0.55-5.80 and 5.30-14.90 mg/kg in dry matter, respectively. The heavy metal contents in plant tissues were mani-folds higher than that in the soil samples. However, vegetables exhibited the higher accumulation of metals than cereal and fodder crop and spinach amongst vegetables was more pronounced than others. According to the metal accumulation in plant tissues, the crops under study were categorized in the following order: spinach > brinjal > chilli > okra > paddy = paragrass. These crops especially the vegetables were not fit for consumption as the heavy metals contents in these plants were above the permissible limits. Moderate to strong positive correlation between plant and soil in respect of Fe, Cd, Co and Pb, while a strong negative correlation between plant-Zn and soil-Zn were observed. The correlations for other metals were rather weak. These amply demonstrated the toxic build up of heavy metals in plant bodies via soil routes. The study leads to the conclusion that growing crops especially of vegetables should be restricted in this polluted basin area in order to avoid metal toxification to the consumers through food chain.