This study aimed to assess heavy metal (HM) accumulation in selected roadside plant species in urbanized areas near the coal capital of India. Five plant species— Tamarindus indica L. (Fabaceae), Azadirachta indica A.Juss. (Meliaceae), Saraca indica L. (Fabaceae), Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae), and Clerodendrum infortunatum L. (Lamiaceae)— were sampled from five roadside locations with varying traffic intensities. The concentrations of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co) on the surface of the plants were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Results indicated varying HM accumulation across species, with Clerodendrum infortunatum exhibiting the highest Pb concentration, Tamarindus indica with the highest Cd concentration, and Nerium oleander with the highest Ni and Co concentrations. Furthermore, One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that plant species from heavily trafficked locations showed significantly higher HM levels compared to those from lightly trafficked areas. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed common source apportionment for Pb—Cr and Co- Ni- Cd. Ethnobotanical use of the plants can result in elevated health risk Index (HI), due to exposure of the heavy metals. The Human health risk trend (High to low) in most of the polluted sites was Co \textgreater Cd \textgreater Pb \textgreater Ni \textgreater Cr. Health risk in females was slightly higher at many sites in comparison to males at almost all sites, maybe because of the longer life span of females and the high dependency of females on homemade medicines. Very high concentrations of Co on plant leaves posed more than 10 times higher non-cancer risk in many sites. The health risk assessment indicates that ethnobotanical usage of plants with metal depositions along the roadway may result in health hazard and such studies need to be conducted across major roadways to understand its environmental and health implications.